Six building and maintenance projects have been conducted at five NSW government schools in the Ku-ring-gai electorate over the summer holidays in preparation for the 2017 school year.

Member for Ku-ring-gai, Alister Henskens SC, said the holidays are quiet times for schools and allow capital works and maintenance projects to take place.

“These holidays, major capital works with an estimated total cost of more than $180 million were undertaken across NSW,” Mr Henskens said.

“More than $33 million of work commenced or was ongoing in minor capital works and in maintenance.

Examples of minor capital works include classroom and canteen upgrades, disability access works, and upgrades to facilities like toilets and walkways. The bulk of the maintenance is painting, floor coverings and roofing.

The schools benefiting from minor works and/or maintenance in Ku-ring-gai are:

• Hornsby Girls High School
• Ku-ring-gai High School
• Normanhurst Public School
• Turramurra North Public School
• West Pymble Public School

“It’s not glamorous work but it’s essential to maintaining our schools as welcoming and functional learning environments,” Mr Henskens said.

“Students and staff will notice a difference when they return to school in 2017.”

Since 2011, the NSW Government has committed more than $4.9 billion to school infrastructure and maintenance.

In the 2016/17 State Budget, $330 million was allocated over two years to planned and priority maintenance works in NSW schools.