State schools receive cool change
The installation of air-conditioning at local state schools is nearly complete, as the roll out of the Palaszczuk Government’s $477 million Cooler Cleaner Schools Program continues to support local jobs.
Pine Rivers MP Nikki Boyd said five out of seven of her local state schools on the to-do list had been ticked off, with the remaining two to be finished in the coming weeks.
“The coronavirus pandemic has deeply impacted our community, but the installation of air-conditioning in state schools is still pushing ahead in the background,” Ms Boyd said.
“The program is keeping local tradies in work which is extremely important in these unprecedented times.”
Ms Boyd said she was really pleased with how quickly installation has occurred at local schools.
“Installation has recently finished at Bray Park State High School and Pine Rivers State High, with a combined total of 92 spaces air-conditioned,” she said.
“We’re expecting a combined 55 spaces at Bray Park State School and Strathpine State School to be done very soon.
“When students and staff can return to school, they will be met with cool classrooms which is just fantastic.”
Education Minister Grace Grace said Queensland’s 1,249 state schools will reap the benefits of the program.
“As announced earlier this year, all Queensland school classrooms, libraries and staff rooms will be air-conditioned by June 2022,” Ms Grace said.
“Again, I’d like to highlight the tireless work of all school P&Cs who’ve done a fantastic job in fundraising to install air-conditioning prior to the Palaszczuk Government’s announcement.”
The Palaszczuk Government’s $477 million Cooler, Cleaner Schools program includes:
- An additional 644 schools to be air conditioned by mid-2022 (including 301 already announced)
- 1000 jobs installing, repairing and maintaining school air-conditioning
- 80,000 school rooftop solar panels to meet running costs (in addition to our $97 million ACES Program already announced)
- Schools already air conditioned won’t pay to have them serviced or replaced
ENDS