Every Western Australian public school will benefit from a $200 million package to address high priority maintenance works and create thousands of jobs for local workers.
Premier Mark McGowan, Education Minister Sue Ellery and Treasurer Ben Wyatt were at West Leeming Primary School today to announce the major school infrastructure package for all 789 public schools across Western Australia.
The schools package will create an estimated 3,150 jobs including 1,890 in metropolitan Perth and 1,260 in regional WA. Local electricians, painters, plumbers, builders and carpenters will all benefit from the works.
Every school will share in $35 million to address maintenance items or identified minor works listed in Building Condition Assessment reports.
Schools will be encouraged to use local contractors to deliver these works through the McGowan Government’s ‘Direct to Market’ framework, which provides schools with the ability to engage local contractors directly, without unnecessary red tape.
The remaining $165 million of funding is allocated to schools for other targeted maintenance works, upgrades or refurbishments.
These works will include classroom refurbishments, electrical upgrades, roof replacements/refurbishments, traffic management works, installation of solar panels and shade structures, repairs to playing surfaces, paths and carparks, and toilet refurbishments.
The major maintenance blitz represents one of the biggest investments in WA schools and builds on the Government’s $453 million investment in 2019-20 alone, to improve infrastructure in public schools and create jobs.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“WA kids deserve to be learning in the best possible school facilities.
“Sometimes it is the simple things that can make such a big difference in our schools.
“The major maintenance blitz means every public school will benefit across our State.
“It is a major investment that will create thousands of jobs for Western Australians.
“The works will get underway soon, delivering a stimulus to the local economy and creating opportunities for local electricians, painters, plumbers, builders and carpenters.”
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“This is one of the biggest single investments in our schools.
“We want to improve all public schools in Western Australia so students are learning in inspiring modern facilities, creating greater opportunities for students and teachers.
“We are delivering on our commitment to improve schools around the State, regardless of where they are located, and this package will deliver huge benefits to hundreds of schools.”
As stated by Treasurer Ben Wyatt:
“The McGowan Government’s responsible budget management has given us the flexibility to make these investment decisions.
“This WA jobs initiative will help support the State’s economy and deliver ongoing benefits to the WA community.
“The $200 million investment builds on the overall $5.2 billion being spent in education in 2019-20 alone.”
