Students in South Barwon will have better school environments to learn and succeed in, with the Andrews Labor Government funding key maintenance projects at schools right across the state.

Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman today announced that two schools in South Barwon are among 94 schools sharing in $7.26 million of Planned Maintenance Program funding for vital improvements to classrooms and school grounds.

Moriac Primary School has been allocated a total of $15,000. This includes $10,000 to address high priority maintenance tasks identified in the school's Rolling Facilities Evaluation, including downpipe repair, external surface revarnishing, fascia repainting, roof repair, shade structure repainting, shade structure repair, wall repainting and wall revarnishing. This also includes $5,000 for high priority maintenance tasks identified in the school's Specialist Assessment to address the school's roof issues.

Grovedale College has been allocated a total of $45,000. This includes $15,000 to address high priority maintenance tasks identified in the school's Rolling Facilities Evaluation, including balustrade repair, cladding repair, cupboard repair, downpipe repair, external surface repainting, fascia repainting, floor revarnishing, guttering repair, radiator repair, roof repair, shade structure repair, skylight repair, structural repair, switchboard repair and wall repainting. This also includes $30,000 for high priority maintenance tasks identified in the school's Specialist Assessment to address the school's roof issues.

The Planned Maintenance Program works address priority maintenance issues identified by the Labor Government’s ongoing evaluation of all school facilities – with work including fixing roofs and windows, repainting walls, resurfacing floors and replacing windows, pathways and stairs.

Almost $1 million of the funding will go towards maintenance to Shelter-in-Place buildings at 10 schools, which provide temporary accommodation to staff and students during a bushfire until emergency services arrive, or as a shelter of last resort.

The announcement brings the amount of Planned Maintenance funding the Labor Government has provided to schools in the 2021 school year to more than $47 million.

This fund makes sure all existing buildings at Victoria’s 1,500 government schools are safe, modern and properly maintained to ensure students and staff are comfortable and safe at school.

In the past seven years, the Labor Government has invested more than $10.9 billion in building new schools and more than 1,700 school upgrades, creating more than 13,500 jobs in construction and associated industries.

Local schools that have benefited in this massive blitz in the past few years include Bellaire Primary, Grovedale West Primary, and Bellbrae Primary.

With 62 schools opening between 2019 and 2024, the Government is well ahead in its work to open 100 new schools will open by 2026, ensuring every Victorian child has access to a great local school.

"We're making sure schools in South Barwon are safe and comfortable - giving out students the best possible settings to learn and thrive in."