Schools selected for priority heater replacement

Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay today welcomed the State Government announcement of a priority list for the replacement of unflued gas heaters in schools, including eight in the Northern Tablelands.
However, Mr Torbay said he was disappointed that schools in other areas including Uralla, Armidale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield were omitted in the first round of replacements.
“The use of unflued gas heaters in classrooms has been an issue of great concern to school staff and parents of children exposed to prolonged use in our cold climate,” Mr Torbay said. “I have been in discussions with the Government on behalf of a number of school communities in the past months in an effort to secure inclusion on this list.
“While I am pleased that eight schools with the coldest recorded temperatures in the Electorate will receive priority replacement heaters, it is disappointing that more schools weren’t included on this initial list.
“I understand that selection process was carried out with groups such as the Asthma Foundation, the NSW Teacher’s Federation, the Federation of P & Cs, the Primary Principal’s Council and the Secondary Principal’s Council using climate data from the Bureau of Meteorology.
“That group endorsed the final list of schools with the recorded lowest temperatures and replacements are expected to be in place in time for next winter.”
Schools receiving the first round of replacement heaters include Ben Lomond public School, Guyra Central School, Black Mountain Public School, Ebor Public School, Bald Blair Public School, Nowendoc Public School, Walcha Central School and Kentucky Public School.
Mr Torbay said he has made direct representations to the Minister for Education and Training on behalf of some of the schools that missed out asking for additional funding to replace unflued gas heater in additional schools.
“While I acknowledge these eight schools are certainly in some of the coldest areas of the region, I will also ask the Minister to include other high altitude schools at Uralla, Armidale, Glen Innes, Deepwater and Tenterfield,” Mr Torbay said.
“As the Government is currently finalising plans for a complete replacement program across the State and I have also urged the Minister to continue pursuing this as a matter of urgency.”