One in three state school buildings across Queensland labelled ‘unfit for purpose' as shocking report uncovers years of neglect
The Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal, commissioned in 2022 by the Labor government and conducted by independent firms AssetFuture and Aurecon, found that 33.7 per cent of state school facilities were either badly deteriorated or deemed unfit for use, with the figure jumping above 50 per cent in Brisbane's metro north and south regions.
The report warned that if the current maintenance backlog isn't addressed swiftly, taxpayers could be facing a $6.9 billion repair bill by 2035.
A four-year investment strategy was recommended, but assessors said even with that, the work could not be completed within a single year.
'This independent report shows Labor starved our education system of the funding it needs to maintain schools,' Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek told the Courier Mail.
Inspectors visited 1,266 schools across Queensland from 2022 to the end of 2023 and their findings included leaking and collapsing roofs, damaged stairs and retaining walls, widespread mould, and evidence of pest infestation.
Despite ongoing updates being shared with the Department of Education through to 2024, there was no public disclosure of the investigations until the final report was handed down to the government in February this year.
Instead of addressing decaying infrastructure, funds were redirected into new buildings like sports halls, playgrounds and performance venues, leaving vital maintenance work to fall by the wayside.
In North Queensland, 40 per cent of state school assets were reported in poor or very poor conditions. However, the true scale of the problem may be worse, with the report noting that key infrastructure such as lifts, air conditioning systems, stormwater drains, and electrical components were not included in the assessment.
The cost of clearing the maintenance backlog currently stands at $441 million, but without immediate intervention, that figure could rise to over $900 million by 2028-29, with further degradation likely to affect student learning and teacher wellbeing.
If allowed to worsen, the deteriorating conditions may force families to pull their children from public schools entirely, the report warned, citing serious health and safety risks and the looming threat of infrastructure failure.
The state government has now committed to funding the extensive repair works over several years, in a bid to stabilise the crisis and restore safety and function to Queensland's state schools.
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