Schools in Orange are set to share in more than $1 million worth of funding to improve infrastructure as part of the NSW Government's Regional Renewal Program, with projects to be completed over the next 18 months.
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The massive injection is part of a $3 million investment into the entire electorate, which NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell announced at Orange Public School on Thursday afternoon.
She was flanked by Nationals MLC Sam Farraway, Relieving Director Educational Leadership for Orange Chad Bliss and OPS principal Brad Tom, with the latter's school to receive more than $50,000.
We're absolutely delighted. To get these projects up and running, we're over the moon.
- OPS principal Brad Tom
Orange High School is the major benefactor of the funding with $600,000 for a learning unit upgrade while Canobolas Rural Technology High, Glenroi Heights Public and Molong Central all set for grants in excess of $100,000.
"It's incredible, it's great to see this kind of funding coming in for schools around Orange and the wider region as well and particularly because they aren't just for outdoor projects or facilities, but also learning-based infrastructure like at Orange High," Mr Bliss said.
Mr Tom was equally as jubilant, with OPS' grant going towards a new water bore and dry creek bed. The school will also chip in $40,000 for the project, with the government committed to contributing between 50 and 80 per cent of project costs.
"We're absolutely delighted [about] the grant money coming in, because it is a partnership between the school and the community so to get these projects up and running, we are over the moon," Mr Tom said.
"Everything will go forward from this point and we just cannot wait to see it in progress."
The $120 million Regional Renewal Program was announced during last year's budget and is part of the government's stimulus program to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's really exciting because it's great for schools but also for local economies as well because we're trying to employ local tradies to help deliver these projects where we can," Ms Mitchell said.
"These projects are the kind of things the schools have identified that they'd like to have, the kind of projects they may have been saving for or P&Cs fundraising for and we're coming in to provide some extra support to get them completed.
The funding is also part of the government's $7 billion investment , which will come over the next four years and is the largest investment in public education in NSW's history.
Mr Farraway noted that and also lauded the funding injection across the entire electorate and the Central West too.
"Throughout the Orange electorate we've got $3 million coming from this program going towards 28 projects. If we put that in a Central West context, we're looking at a $23 million investment with 99 schools and 110 projects," he said.
FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS:
Where the government's Regional Renewal Program grants are going:
- Orange High School - $600,000 (learning unit upgrade)
- Canowindra High School - $192,500 (toilet upgrade)
- Canobolas Rural Technology High School - $120,000 (carpark and transport)
- Glenroi Heights Public School - $102,250 (carpark and transport)
- Molong Central School - $100,000 (playground upgrade)
- Eugowra Public School - $100,000 (playground upgrade)
- Nashdale Public School - $70,000 (hall, MPC, gym and communal space upgrade)
- Cumnock Public School - $63,000 (kitchen refurbishment, playground upgrade)
- Orange Public School - $55,200 (water bore, dry creek bed)
- Calare Public School - $50,000 (supply and installation shed)
- Anson Street School - $50,000 (provision of skills centre, storage for SSP equipment, sensory room)
- Yeoval Central School - $48,050 (mist lines, library refurbishment, electric oven replacement, playground soft-fall, acoustic panel)
- Bowen Public School - $45,000 (hall, MPC, gym and communal space upgrade)
- Cargo Public School - $44,300 (covered walkway, shade cover for fitness station)
- Canobolas Public School - $40,000 (hall, MPC, gym and communal space upgrade)
- Canowindra Public School - $30,000 (playground update)
- Clergate Public School - $10,877 (installation of fitness equipment)
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