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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Extra funding for school repairs

 

Brisbane Water Secondary College will get a new tractor for its Umina campus and Woy Woy South Public School will have roof repairs with the announcement of extra Government funding.

The college's Umina campus will also get new floor coverings.

New telephone system will be installed at the Umina campus, the Woy Woy campus and at Woy Woy South.

Both Ettalong and Woy Woy Public Schools will also be painted as part of the refurbishment.

Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews, said $458,472 would be spent on the repairs and refurbishment.

Ms Andrews said that a "school yard blitz" would take place over the next five months.

She said she was informed of the building bonanza by the NSW Minister for Education and Training, Mr John Watkins.

"In the coming five months, tradespeople will almost be as common as teachers in our local schools," Ms Andrews said.

"Local school staff, students and parents told me they wanted to see their schools upgraded," she said.

"This extra $458,472 will help, especially as it comes on top of the funding already allocated to school capital works in the Peats electorate.

Ms Andrews said the local school spending was part of a $70 million boost to public schools across the state.

The spending comes on top of the $257.6 million already provided in the 2001-2002 NSW budget for school capital works and $157 million for school maintenance.

Across the state, an estimated 1400 full-time jobs will be created during the five months that the project will run, she said.

Mr Watkins said Ms Andrews had fought hard to get a share of the funding for local schools.

"She urged the government to continue to improve the standard of local schools," Mr Watkins said.

Media release, February 4.