Families across regional NSW will see hundreds of projects delivered at their local public schools through a $180 million investment from a re-elected NSW Nationals Government.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the commitment will more than double The Nationals’ investment in small capital works projects at regional schools through the Regional Renewal Program.
“We’ve already invested more than $160 million in small projects that make a big difference to regional schools like upgrades to the tuckshop or a new shade sail – and we want to keep delivering,” Mr Toole said.
“The long-term economic plan of the NSW Nationals means we can get behind the small projects that schools, local P&Cs and parents really care about and help bring them to life.
“This is about building projects we know local schools and parents want and need, while providing work for hundreds of local tradies in the process.”
Nationals’ Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said she was pleased The Nationals’ strong economic management means communities are supported through incredible programs such as this one.
“Schools play such an important role in their communities and this funding allows us to work with those communities to identify and deliver projects that are important to them,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Only a NSW Nationals Government with a proven track record of delivery will make investment in the regions a priority and ensure this program is delivered.
“Families in the bush know that under Labor they will go backwards, given Labor’s track record of closing 90 schools when they were last in government. It’s only The Nationals that will keep NSW moving forward.”
The Regional Renewal Program was launched in November 2020 with the NSW Government co-contributing up to 80 per cent of the cost for local school projects such as covered outdoor learning areas, playground upgrades and canteens nominated by schools.
More than 950 projects have been approved across more than 840 schools, with 750 projects already completed. This is an investment of more than $160 million in regional communities.
The NSW Government is investing $8.6 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 160 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This builds on the more than $9.1 billion invested in projects delivered since 2017, a program of $17.7 billion in public education infrastructure.
This latest commitment is another example of the NSW Nationals’ nation-leading work to give our kids the best start in life:
• A $15.9 billion Early Years Commitment, including delivering universal pre-Kindergarten for every child in the year before school and rolling out a full suite of health and development checks to NSW preschools.
• A once-in-a-generation back-to-basics school curriculum that puts literacy and numeracy first for all students.
• A $250 million tutoring program to support up to 120,000 students in 2023, bringing the total to $890 million invested in tutoring since 2021.
• Making sure we have the best teachers in our classrooms by supporting our students with a guaranteed 6% pay rise for teachers over the next two years, and a $100 million commitment to pay excellent teachers salaries of up to $152,000.
