The NSW Government today announced the first schools to receive air conditioning under its Cooler Classrooms program, with all public schools in the Penrith electorate set to benefit.
Local Member Stuart Ayres welcomed the announcement.
“I’m pleased that all 20 public schools in our local community will benefit from the Cooler Classrooms Fund. This is part of the Government’s continued commitment to providing environments where our students and teachers can best succeed,” Stuart Ayres said.
“This is a great win for Penrith school students and something I have campaigned for over many years”.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes said more than 900 schools would be the first to receive funding under the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s record $500 million program – the largest investment of its kind in NSW history.
“We’re thrilled to be delivering on our commitment to provide healthy learning environments in which our students and teachers can thrive, no matter the weather,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Delivering air conditioning to more schools than ever before is only possible due to the strong economic management of the Liberals & Nationals Government.”
Schools in areas such as Penrith – that have an average maximum January temperature of 30 degrees or more – will now automatically receive air conditioning in their classrooms and libraries, while all other schools can apply for funding under the Cooler Classrooms Fund on a needs basis. Previously only schools with an average maximum January temperature of 33 degrees or more were air conditioned.
The first round of applications took place throughout Term 3 this year. A second round will open in the new year.
Mr Stokes said, unlike Labor’s plans, the NSW Liberals & Nationals’ Cooler Classrooms program was both economically and environmentally sustainable.
“We’re installing solar panels and ‘smart systems’ alongside the air conditioning units, so schools can offset their additional energy use and efficiently heat and cool their schools,” he said.
In addition to the hundreds of schools benefiting under the Cooler Classrooms program, air conditioning will be delivered in all new and upgraded schools under the Government’s record $6 billion school building program over the next four years.
“Every one of our 170 new and upgraded schools, including more than 2000 new classrooms, will also receive the new sustainable air conditioning systems,” Mr Stokes said.
Penrith Schools that will have their classrooms and libraries air conditioned under round one are:
Braddock Public School
Cambridge Gardens Public School
Cranebrook High School
Emu Heights Public School
Emu Plains Public School
Glenbrook Public School
Henry Fulton Public School
Jamison High School
Jamisontown Public School
Kingswood High School
Kingswood Park Public School
Kingswood Public School
Kingswood South Public School
Lapstone Public School
Leonay Public School
Penrith High School
Penrith Public School
Penrith South Public School
Samuel Terry Public School
York Public School
School principals are encouraged to apply to the second round of the Fund, which will open on Day 1 of Term 1 next year. More information can be found at www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au.
