The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has asked the Education Minister to address ongoing problems caused by flooding and water damage at Strathfieldsaye Primary School.
Ms Broad told Parliament 17 classrooms have been impacted by flooding through water-damaged ceilings over the last four years.
“One teacher noted that their classrooms have been impacted for up to 20 weeks, with prep students disrupted over a period of eight weeks and relocated to other classrooms,” Ms Broad said.
The school is in a growing area and has more than 540 students, but facilities are not keeping pace.
Ms Broad said the silicon repairs carried out by the department had not addressed the underlying issues, with mould and water stains still present.
“Parents have expressed concern about the health implications as children in affected classrooms experience asthma with no history of symptoms.
“The Building Education Revolution resulted in capital works at the school with ceilings so high you need a cherry picker to change a lightbulb or to remove sections of water-stained tiles on the ceilings. The same toilet block built in the 1980s, when there were over 100 students, is still in use today despite the increase in enrolments.”
Ms Broad said a 2024 a parliamentary inquiry into the state education system in Victoria included recommendation 39 – which the government supported in full – which said:
“That the Department of Education ensure that schools are adequately resourced to respond to the needs of students, including their wellbeing …”
Recommendation 47 of the report – which the government supported in principle – called on the Victorian government to:
“… significantly increase its investment in school capital infrastructure funding in government schools”
The Victorian Auditor-General’s report Delivering School Upgrade Projects was released in June this year, and Ms Broad said she was concerned to read the following findings:
- VSBA does not always make recommendations for school upgrade projects in line with its strategies for improving school conditions.
- VSBA’s costings and timelines for school upgrade projects are not always transparent.
- VSBA could do more to make sure upgrades meet school needs.
“The audit found that 29 per cent of school upgrades experience cost blowouts, 25 per cent of projects were delayed, the number of schools in poor condition increased from 182 to 221 in just two years, the government’s target of having no schools in poor condition has been pushed back from 2030 to 2034 and schools are not always selected for upgrades in line with existing prioritisation guidelines,” Ms Broad said.
“Our kids deserve the very best education and quality facilities.”
Ms Broad formally asked the Minister to make it a priority to consult with the school and ensure the ongoing issues were addressed.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
