Only one school in the former Wyong LGA made the list of 10 schools that topped the Central Coast’s school maintenance blitz that took place over the holidays.
Wadalba Community School received $2,161,092 in maintenance works while the remaining nine schools are from the former Gosford LGA. However, the expenditure on Wadalba Community School was nearly twice as much as the next school on the list. The NSW Liberal-National Government has reduced the State’s planned school maintenance list by more than $200m, or by about a quarter, in the past 18 months, according to Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald. “I am pleased to see the NSW Government delivering these important works for Central Coast schools,” Mr MacDonald said. “Providing high-quality school facilities is vital to give our children the education they need and deserve,” he added.
Upon request, the Chronicle was given the figures for the spend on the top 20 schools in the region. In the 11 to 20 range, only two other schools fell outside of the former Gosford LGA, Wyong High ($643,908) and Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Berkeley Vale ($640,382). Of the total funds allocated to the region, $3,445,382 was spent on schools in the former Wyong LGA. When questioned about how the funds were allocated, a representative from Mr McDonald’s office said the funds were attributed to each schools’ individual maintenance list logged by School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW), with schools with larger lists prioritised.
Source: Media release and Statement, Feb 5 and 9 Kit Hale, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC Dilon Luke, Journalist