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Education Minister Grace Grace has today visited Bundaberg State High School which will soon be home to state-of-the-art facilities, including a new multi-storey learning centre.

Schools in the Bundaberg region are receiving over $14 million in infrastructure projects, as part of a record $1.46 billion state school infrastructure spend in the 2019/20 State Budget.

Ms Grace said the $14.5 million investment will make a big difference to staff and students while also boosting the local economy with the creation of 42 construction jobs.

“This Budget includes some fantastic new projects for Bundaberg schools, starring $11 million at Bundaberg State High School which has been made possible by the Palaszczuk Government’s Renewing Our Schools Program,” she said.

“It was wonderful to have the opportunity today to meet the staff and students and see how excited they are by their new projects, which will really transform the school.”

Bundaberg State High’s $11 million Budget funding will be spread across several projects:

– a new two-storey secondary learning centre which will feature a resource centre on level one and three classrooms and three research spaces on level two.

– refurbishment of the existing sports centre to include new showers and change rooms, tiered seating next to the court, a court resurface and an internal repaint.

– refurbishment of Block Q to create five modern learning spaces, two offices and the construction of a covered link between Blocks Q and W. Central accommodation for teacher aides will also be created.

Ms Grace said the Budget also included funding for the continuation of some of the bigger projects in Bundaberg that have already started like the extra classrooms at Branyan Road State School.

“As we know, some of the smaller projects in the Budget are just as important to schools as the bigger ones and it’s great to see $100,000 going towards the upgrade of an outdoor learning area at Bundaberg Special School and $250,000 to refurbish block E at Bundaberg South State School,” Ms Grace said.

“These projects across Queensland are not only a win for schools but also the state’s construction industry.

“Construction of these school projects is expected to support more than 4,245 jobs state-wide.

“The Palaszczuk Government wants every Queensland child, wherever they live, to get a great start to life by receiving a world-class education.”

Ms Grace said the Budget also includes increased funding of $100 million over four years for priority state school air conditioning projects which, including existing investment, will bring total funding to $191 million over five years.

“This will include urgent replacement of air-conditioning units in schools in the Cooler Schools Zone and other priority school air-conditioning projects as identified through a review of state school air-conditioning needs,” she said.

Click to see a full list of all projects included in the Bundaberg electorate.