Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan) (17:58): My adjournment matter is directed to the Honourable James Merlino, the Acting Premier, Minister for Education and Minister for Mental Health. This adjournment matter relates to the portfolio responsibilities of education. The greener government school buildings program, GGSB, endeavours to minimise greenhouse gas emissions at schools and supports the upgrading of school facilities to be more energy efficient and sustainable through the installation of solar power.
The minister recently announced that 171 government schools across Victoria under the greener government school buildings program will receive solar power systems. This follows the success of a pilot program that helped 42 schools in 2019. Under this new round of the program, 6974 kilowatts of solar installation are projected to be installed along with an estimated savings of $1.8 million per year, subsequently mitigating 10 200 tonnes of carbon emissions. This program contributes to the Andrews Labor government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050 by removing the up-front costs for schools to install a solar power system.
By announcing this $8.8 million program for installing solar power systems in government schools, the Victorian government is establishing itself as a leader in tackling the issue of climate change and has legislated a goal of net zero emissions by 2050. This great initiative by the Andrews Labor government helps schools to reduce their carbon emissions and their electricity costs. The action I seek from the minister is to advise me how many schools in my electorate of Western Metropolitan Region were successful in this program.
Reply:
The Andrews Labor Government is committed to reducing Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions as well as reducing emissions from government buildings. The Government’s Greener Government School Buildings (GGSB) program will contribute to this by implementing a range of energy-efficiency measures including solar energy systems and lighting upgrades, to reduce the energy use of school buildings across the state.
As you are aware, on 26 February 2021, I was pleased to announce that the Government had allocated $8.8 million to 171 government schools across Victoria to participate in the GGSB program.
Of the 171 schools, 16 schools were allocated funds within your electorate of the Western Metropolitan Region. Subject to the schools signing the program agreement, the 16 schools from the Western Metropolitan Region are as follows:
– Essendon Keilor College Niddrie Campus (Niddrie) – Footscray City Primary School (Footscray) – Footscray High School Barkly Street Campus (Footscray)
-Footscray High School Kinnear Street Campus (Footscray) -Footscray High School Pilgrim Street Campus (Seddon) -Homestead Senior Secondary College (Point Cook) -Killara Primary School (Sunbury) -Mackellar Primary School (Delahey) -Riverwalk Primary School (Werribee) -Springside West Secondary College (Springside West) -Strathmore Secondary College (Strathmore) -Sunshine College North Sunshine Campus (Sunshine North) -Sunshine College West Sunshine Campus (Sunshine West) -Wyndham Central Secondary College (Wyndham Vale) -Wyndham Park Primary School (Wyndham Vale) -Wyndham Vale Primary School (Wyndham Vale)
I trust that this information is of assistance.