The massive maintenance backlog at government schools in the Macarthur area is getting worse but the Baird Government has failed to do anything about it.
Local MP Greg Warren says documents obtained by the NSW Labor Opposition show that some of the most neglected government schools across NSW are in the Macarthur region.
“The massive school maintenance backlog across the Macarthur region again demonstrates the Baird Government’s failure to provide the infrastructure and services our region needs,’’ Mr Warren said.
“As a society there’s not too much we do that’s more important than looking after our kids and making sure they have every opportunity to get the best education possible.
“The Baird Government is happy to sit on a budget surplus of $4.7 billion, but won’t spend $31 million to make sure our schools in the Macarthur region are up to scratch,’’ he said.
The documents show Hurlstone Agricultural High School and Leumeah High School are in the top 10 schools across NSW with the biggest maintenance backlogs, coming in at $2.6 million and $2.1 million.
Claymore Public School also had the 5th highest maintenance backlog of any primary school in NSW, totalling $1.3 million.
In total, 24 schools across the Macarthur area have maintenance backlogs in excess of $500,000, six of which are in excess of $1 million.
Across the Campbelltown and Camden local government areas, the total maintenance backlog is a staggering $31 million.
This represents an increase of more than $6.6 million compared to last financial year, with the backlog growing by more than $100,000 at 18 schools across the Macarthur region.
The blowout in the maintenance backlog comes despite the Baird Government promising to allocate $40 million towards reducing the backlog across the state.
“It would take less than one per cent of the government surplus to completely clear the maintenance backlog across the Macarthur region, but because of Mike Baird’s twisted priorities local students are made to suffer instead,” Mr Warren said.
