The crumbling state of schools across NSW has worsened under the Baird Government with the school maintenance backlog growing by more than $43 million in just 12 months.

Documents obtained by the Labor Opposition have revealed the school maintenance backlog has ballooned to more than $775 million; up from $732 million last financial year.

The latest documents show the individual maintenance backlog for 15 government schools in Balmain as at June 30 2016 was $8.2 million in total. The data shows:

• One school has an individual maintenance backlog in excess of $1 million in Balmain;
• Seven other schools have a backlog in excess of $500,000;
• No schools have a backlog bill of less than $80,000.

Balmain’s ten most dilapidated schools have a combined backlog bill of $7 million.

A wide range of works are needed across NSW schools including toilet and sewer upgrades, carpet replacement, painting, fixing damaged rooves, installing guttering, replacing windows and other general repairs.

Balmain’s most rundown school, Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus, had a staggering $1,146,658 worth of needed repairs and maintenance that were yet to be addressed.

The school maintenance backlog follows a series of appalling revelations about the state of NSW public schools with the Opposition uncovering a school overcrowding crisis during budget estimate hearings.

The hearings uncovered that more than a third of NSW public schools are at or above capacity. 

The maintenance backlog has shown once again that the Baird Government has no plan to bring our overcrowded schools up to standard.

Quotes attributable to Labor Duty MLC for Balmain Penny Sharpe MLC

“Children in Balmain schools are being forced to learn in second rate environments because the Baird Government has failed to address the growing maintenance backlog.

“Principals across Balmain are doing the best they can with the meagre resources that they have at their disposal.

“Mike Baird needs to explain to parents why he is allowing their children to sit in classrooms that fail to make the grade.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION