Local schools get funding

When local member, Lawrence Springborg, heard that Millmerran State School was receiving $160,000 for maintenance work, he said that it was long overdue.
“I am pleased that schools in this electorate have received money to fix existing maintenance issues, especially when I know the state of disrepair that some of the schools have been left in,” Mr Springborg said.
Over 2.6 million dollars was being spent on maintenance in the Southern Downs electorate alone.
Mr Springborg said that the last government left state schools with a $292 million maintenance backlog.
“Maintenance has been ignored and as a result, some of the schools in Southern Downs have been left in a shambles – to the point that some schools are not safe,” he said.
Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said in addition to the Maintenance fund, schools were now untied from QBuild which meant private providers could carry out maintenance work.
“Schools now have the option to choose to continue to use QBuild or to go directly to the market for the delivery of all planned and routing breakdown maintenance,” Mr Langbroek said.
“To qualify for the funding, P &Cs will be asked to obtain three quotes from professionals to submit with their application. The Government will also ask P & C organisations to contribute to the maintenance task, if they have funds to do so.
“This approach is about empowering local school communities and reflects our belief that a government bureaucracy, no matter how well intentioned, does not always know best.”
Mr Langbroek said $100 million would be available in 2012-13 and a further $100 million would be available in 2013-14.