The Queensland Government has announced a $220 million works program set to create hundreds of construction jobs refurbishing education facilities.
The funding is on top of more than a billion dollars already announced for new schools and new classrooms in 2020.
Schools are being encouraged to engage local businesses to complete maintenance works and smaller jobs in schools, greatly benefitting hundreds of local tradies across Queensland.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the refurbishment will support more than 720 jobs as schools engage with local businesses to get the work done as soon as possible
“We are about to embark on a big refurbishment and upgrade program in Queensland schools across the state,” Palaszczuk said.
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“Projects like the refurbishment of classrooms and libraries, the creation of outdoor learning spaces, the refurbishment of tennis courts, the repairing of paths and walkways as well as new and refurbished playgrounds.
“That means we need local tradies for a range of works including building, painting and repairing facilities.
Palaszczuk said Queensland’s plan for economic recovery from the global pandemic starts with job creation.
“It’s because we’re continuing to manage the health response that we’re able to focus on our economic recovery,” she said.
“We’ve got a $6 billion plan to create vital jobs as we navigate our way through this global pandemic and get our economy back up and running and this program is an important part of that.”
Education Minister Grace Grace said when it came to building the schools of the future, the record of the Palaszczuk Government was unmatched.
“We built eight new schools under budget and opened them on time for day 1 of the 2020 school year,” Grace said.
“Our $235 million Renewing Our Schools program is currently supporting more than 700 jobs in Cairns, Townsville, Proserpine, Sarina, Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Brisbane to name a few.
“The $477 million Cooler Cleaner Schools Program will air-condition every classroom, staff room and library in every Queensland state school by June 2022 and we’re putting 180,000 solar panels on school rooftops to offset those costs.”