Canberra tops up school grants

By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE West Primary School has received yet another grant after its recent funding announcement in the State Budget.
This week Senator Mitch Fifield announced that more than $42,000 would be going to the school to install water tanks under the Federal Government’s Community Water Grants Program.
This comes after the announcement earlier this month that $5.1 million had been set aside in the State Budget to modernise teaching and staff administration areas at the school.
Principal Andrew Bergmeier said the school was very excited about the extra funding as they had long wanted to use recycled or tank water for the school’s toilets as well as for irrigation and reticulation on playing fields.
Mr Bergmeier said the grant would be used alongside the capital refurbishments of the school, under which seven new classrooms, a new administration area, canteen and performing arts area will be built.
“We have been working on this plan for six months so far,” he said. “It is now at the final design stage. Once it is approved it goes out to tender. We expect works will start before end of the year.”
Senator Fifield said the water project would save more than 1.2 million litres of water each year.