Wyndham’s ageing and overcrowded schools have again been overlooked for maintenance funding, despite the state government announcing $23 million to repair and replace buildings at 169 schools.
Education Minister Martin Dixon last week said the government was committed to providing state schools with better facilities.
He said the $23 million would be spent on the 321 school buildings most in need of urgent works.
However, the government has ruled that none of those school buildings are in Wyndham despite several schools, including Werribee Secondary College and The Grange College, pleading for funding in recent years.
Werribee Secondary College has urged the government to provide $7 million to replace buildings described as potential death traps, while The Grange has had no significant infrastructure added since it was built more than 20 years ago.
A 2012 audit of government school maintenance found notable issues with 2042 buildings at 505 schools across Victoria.
A further 3074 buildings were below standard.
The report said close to $45 million needed to be spent on 142 western suburbs schools to bring buildings up to scratch.
Opposition treasury spokesman and Tarneit MP Tim Pallas said it was disappointing that Wyndham schools had been ignored.
Mr Pallas said about 80 per cent of the maintenance funding was being spent on schools in safe Coalition or marginal seats.
“This is typical of the Napthine government’s attitude towards education in Wyndham.
‘‘The Liberal government has failed to match Victorian Labor’s commitment to fund $10 million for Tarneit P-9 and $7 million for Werribee Secondary College’s capital works,” he said.
An Education Department spokesman said the funding was being spent on the schools identified by the 2012 audit as being most
in need.
“The government’s audit has given us a clear and consistent picture of school maintenance requirements so that funding is allocated to schools that need it most.”
