All seven public schools on the Central Coast which have applied for funding through the NSW Government’s $500M Cooler Classrooms program have been successful, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch, has revealed.
Crouch was responding to claims from Shadow Minister for Education Prue Carr that delayed roll-out of the program has seen hundreds of school communities in the state left waiting for answers.
Carr said some 900 schools were approved for air conditioning under the first round of the program, but two years on, just 93 projects have been delivered.
“The Government took three months to approve the first round of applications,” she said.
“That timeframe has blown out to 15 months for the second round, with more than 400 schools still waiting for an outcome.
“And of the projects that actually made it to tender last year, 56 are still incomplete.
“We know summers are getting hotter.
“It’s not comfortable for kids in older school buildings in Western Sydney and regional NSW.
“Children shouldn’t be forced to swelter at school.”
But Crouch said Central Coast schools were on track under the program.
He said Lisarow Public School, Point Clare Public School, Terrigal Public School, Toukley Public School, Wadalba Community School, Woongarrah Public School and Wyong High School had all successfully applied for funding.
“At Lisarow Public School, the air conditioning works have been delivered and air conditioning works is underway at the six remaining schools,” Crouch said.
“Air conditioning has also been delivered to the 25 new classrooms recently constructed at Terrigal Public School and Wamberal Public School.”
Terry Collins