Campaigning for schools - Labor candidate launches education petition

Woodend Primary School principal, Andy Kozak, and Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters with her petition. Photo: Chris Fleming

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters visited Woodend Primary School last week to launch her 'Macedon Ranges supports Fairer Funding for our Schools' campaign.

Ms Chesters said the Federal Labor government has put on the table millions of dollars for Macedon Ranges schools that deserve and need this funding to help ensure our kids get the best education for the best start in life. 

"Right now, the Liberal State Government and Federal Opposition are refusing to back the plan," Ms Chesters said. 

"Under Labor's National Plan for School Improvement, Victorian schools would benefit from an extra $4 billion, or about $1.8 million per school on average, over the next six years. 

"With one in 12 students not reaching minimum education standards, this is money that Macedon Ranges schools like Woodend Primary School need, and need right now."

Ms Chesters said that under Labor's plan all schools would be funded through a fairer system which is based on the needs of individual students and provides extra, targeted support for schools and students who need it most.

"Liberal State Premier Denis Napthine's decision not to invest in education is devastating for central Victorian schools, parents and children.

"Instead of putting Victorian schools first, Denis Napthine has turned his back on our students and resorted to slashing vital education funding.

"That's why we're launching this campaign. 

We are calling on Premier Napthine to follow the example of his NSW colleague, Premier Barry O'Farrell, and sign up to our plan to deliver a better deal for Victorian schools.

"The Federal Government has put a fair deal on the table for Mr Napthine - offering to invest two dollars for every extra one dollar they put in. This would ensure all schools get the funding they need to deliver the best education.

"Now it is up to everyone in the Macedon Ranges to get behind this campaign and demonstrate to the State and Federal Liberals that we support the National Plan for School Improvement and that Bendigo wants the funding that is on the table for our achools."

An online petition supporting the plan can be signed by visiting Ms Chesters' Facebook page facebook.com/lisachestersbendigo and clicking the link.

$1.1M to fix black spots

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, and Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, at the corner of Egans Lane at the intersection of Dons Road and Three Chain Road, Newham, which has been awarded Black Spot funding.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, have welcomed the Federal Government's Budget allocation of $1,100,000 to fix three dangerous black spots in the Macedon Ranges.

The funding is the one significant cash injection from the Budget awarded to local projects.

The approved projects are:

· Three Chain Road, near Dons Road, at Newham: $814,000 to widen and seal the shoulder, install a skid-resistant seal, seal bellmouths and bus-bays, install a guardrail, line marking and signage and remove obscuring trees and vegetation;

· Romsey Road, near Mt Macedon to Hanging Rock Road, at Newham: $186,000 to widen and seal the shoulder, seal intersection approaches, remove an embankment and tree, install line marking and signage and complete drainage works.

· Burke & Wills Track, between Showlers Road and Wescott Lane, at Lancefield: $98,000 to install guardrail on all bends, improve signage, install curve advisory markers, and widen the seal on the western approach bend.

The projects were recommended by a panel of independent road safety experts and will be delivered during the course of the coming financial year (2013-14).

Mr Mitchell said since being elected in 2007, the Federal Labor Government has allocated over $8.2 million to fix 26 black spots across the McEwen electorate.

"This investment is helping to make our local roads safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with 23 of these projects already completed," said Mr Mitchell.

"And the good thing about our Black Spot program is that anyone can suggest an intersection or section of road they believe should be considered for a safety upgrade.

"Nomination forms are available from my office. Alternatively, they can be downloaded from: www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au."

Mr Albanese said a recent evaluation of the program found that fatal and casualty crashes are reduced at treated sites by 30 per cent, which translates to the saving of one life per year for every 84 projects. It also returns around $7.70 for every $1 invested by reducing the number and cost of crashes.

"That's why nationally we've doubled the program's funding to half a billion dollars - more than honouring all our election commitments."

Labor's candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, said the funding for works at Newham were a much-needed safety boost for roads in the local community.

Finally funded

State Education Minister Martin Dixon visited Macedon Ranges schools including Woodend Primary School to announce maintenance funding on Wednesday. Mr Dixon met school vice-captain Jack Hansford, school captain Emily Hoey, and student representative Maggie Clune. Photo: Chris Fleming

School maintenance has finally hit the State Government's priority list in a funding announcement this week.

Education Minister, Martin Dixon, toured local schools on Wednesday as he revealed funding allocations with Member for Northern Victoria, Donna Petrovich and Federal candidate for Bendigo, Greg Bickley.

The minister announced $51.5 million to be shared across the state for school maintenance needs identified in an audit last year.

"The independent maintenance audit of schools across the state has been an essential part of understanding what schools had not received maintenance funding under the previous Labor Government," Ms Petrovich said. 

Kyneton Secondary College (KSC) will receive this shire's most significant amount, an allocation of $627,726. 

The college has been calling for desperately needed maintenance for years, while also enduring years of State Government knock backs for the K12 (kinder to year 12) Kyneton Education Plan. Without either solution, parents, teachers and committee members resorted to undertaking their own maintenance works in late 2010.

This funding allocation has come as relief to KSC, principal Mark Ridgeway said.

"We were very, very happy and very excited. It's great news," he said.

"It's going towards major maintenance of a number of our buildings; the English wing, the woodwork wing, food technology wing and the arts/textile/music wing." 

Mr Ridgeway said the K12 project was discussed at the minister's visit.

"What we've been campaigning for is the Kyneton Education Plan. The minister indicated that that would be separate to this main funding," he said.

"What he was saying was that they support our plans for the Kyneton K12 plan and it was not a question of if, but more of when."

Woodend Primary School, another school that has led a strong campaign for maintenance, will benefit from $308,384.

In 2011 and 2012 the school lobbied for state funds.

"While we all worked and waited for a response, the school's fabric continued to decay and the associated safety risks increased," Woodend Primary School parent, Rebecca Colless said. 

Ms Colless, a former school council member, attended the announcement on Wednesday. 

"This isn't a special gift or new grant, it's the money owed to the school for a long time," she said.

"It is the government's responsibility to maintain our public schools in a safe and presentable condition, in a timely fashion. I can't congratulate the government for doing their job: (a) when we have had to nag them to do it; and (b) late."

Other local schools to benefit from the funds are Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist Schools ($416,055), Gisborne Secondary College ($73,134), Romsey Primary School ($22,148), Bolinda Primary School ($55,876), and Clarkefield Primary ($3,824).