News and Media
05 November 2009
School construction provides ongoing work to builders across Victoria
Victorian company Contract Control has been awarded several projects under the Primary Schools for the 21st Century (P21) element of the Building the Education Revolution (BER), and is seeing numbers of local and regional staff increase dramatically as school constructions move into full swing.
Where possible, Contract Control is using local contractors for their BER projects. In the north Victorian region of Loddon Mallee, Romsey Primary School site foreman, Mr Chris Casey, said the stimulus funding meant Contract Control could maintain and even increase its employee levels.
“We’ve been able to put on more staff dramatically and we seem to be covering more of Victoria, which means we need more staff locally,” Mr Casey said.“We’re hiring more regional contractors than before. ”Site manager at Gisborne Primary School, Mr Paul Magdic, said the BER projects were having a positive effect on the construction industry overall.
On this job to-date, there have been 50 employees that have been inducted, walked through and actually worked on the site,” Mr Magdic said.
Apprentice Mr Matt Philipps, who lives locally and works at the Gisborne Primary site, said the projects provide both convenient and secure employment.
“It’s good because it keeps apprentices still going in the workforce and doesn’t leave anyone without a job,” Mr Philipps said.
Romsey and Gisborne Primary Schools are excited about their new learning spaces and look forward to the new opportunities the facilities will offer students.
Gisborne Primary School teacher, Ms Leanne Potter, said the centres would give students the best chance of having individually-catered education.
“To see that the Government has invested, not only the time, the effort, but the money to ensure that our education system is constantly improving, is a really clear message that it’s such an important part of what we’re doing,” Ms Potter said.
Romsey and Gisborne Primary Schools have received funding for a learning neighbourhood and a multipurpose centre respectively, under the P21 element of the BER.