LOCAL SCHOOLS LOSE WATER FUNDING – SCHOOLS TO FIND ANOTHER $20,000
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today that local parents, teachers and students will now have to hold fundraisers to find up to $20,000 for water and energy efficiency projects.
“The Government has nailed the lid on the coffin of the Coalition’s successful Green Vouchers for Schools program, which allowed schools to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to install solar hot water systems and rainwater tanks,” Mr Ruddock said.
“The popular program has been replaced by a program that effectively cuts funding for solar hot water systems and rainwater tanks in our local schools by $20,000. Funds for school water saving / solar hot water programs have now been capped at $30,000 whereas this was previously $50,000.
“So for example, a local school banking on $50,000 for a rainwater tank or solar hot water system will have to fundraise an additional $20,000.
“This is an unfair cost impost on those parents, teachers and students who want to do the right thing by the environment and the loss of the Green Vouchers for Schools program sets a bad lesson for our local youngsters as they strive to improve water and energy efficiency at school,” Philip Ruddock said.