The Nationals Melina Bath, Member for Eastern Victoria Region and Assistant Shadow Minister for
Education has called out the Andrews Labor Government in parliament for ignoring school council
pleas for extra funding to enable urgent maintenance to be undertaken on Hazelwood North Primary
School.
Ms Bath said Daniel Andrews and James Merlino are neglecting Hazelwood North Primary School.
School buildings are falling apart and requests for additional urgent funding are being ignored.
“Hazelwood North Primary School Council has placed repeated requests for additional funding to
undertake basic and necessary maintenance works as virtually all of the allocated school resource
funding is being spent keeping their antiquated septic system operational.
“Keeping the toilets flushing or repairing decrepit buildings is not a choice that any school
should ever have to make. Daniel Andrews is not making city schools make this choice.
Building repairs needed at Hazelwood North Primary School include replacement of external cladding
on the older buildings, decking and joists need renewing and repairing. Guttering and downpipes
need replacing and roof and ceiling repairs must be undertaken to fix the leaks. On top of
structural repairs the buildings needs painting inside and out.
“Unfortunately these are not optional repairs and upgrades, yet the needs of the school continues
to be ignored by the Andrews Labor Government. They have allowed the facilities to slip well below
an acceptable standard and students and teachers deserve so much better.
“I have asked the Minister of Education to provide additional emergency funding to bring the school
up to an acceptable standard, but I have not received a response.
“The Hazelwood North Primary School Council do a wonderful job raising funds, but they want to use
their hard earned fundraising dollars on enhancing learning and investing in new technologies for
students rather than paying for infrastructure upgrades that are a
state responsibility.
