Liberals promise $2.8 million for Fraser Park, Tailem Bend schools

The Liberal Party will spend almost $2.8 million refurbishing two Murraylands schools if it wins the upcoming state election.

Fraser Park Primary School would get the lion’s share of funding: $2.1 million to replace at least some of the transportable classrooms which make up most of the school’s learning spaces.

Tailem Bend Primary School would get $675,000 for a comparable update.

Education Minister John Gardner said the latest “high quality modular learning spaces” would be a big step up from the ageing buildings at both schools.

“Our children deserve a world-class education,” he said.

“These modern, modular facilities will enhance the way teachers deliver lessons and improve learning opportunities for students.

“They will also support the building industry and local jobs.”

Major building projects have also been carried out at Murray Bridge High School, and will soon be carried out at Murray Bridge North School, during the current state government’s term.

However, each of those projects was originally announced in 2017, when Labor was last in office.

Murray Bridge News is seeking comment from Labor candidate Belinda Owens.

Hospital helipad needs an upgrade, too

The Liberals would also upgrade the helipad at the Murray Bridge hospital if they were re-elected, Mr Pederick said.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority recently updated its rules around helipads and how strong they needed to be to cope with big, modern helicopters and/or rough take-offs and landings.

A Liberal government would strengthen the helipad to ensure it could keep being used for emergency evacuations and patient transfers, Mr Pederick said.

“These upgrades (will) ensure that essential emergency evacuations can continue to be conducted safely,” he said.

“This service is vital to ensure regional patients receive the care they need, when they need it.”

The Liberals’ big-ticket promise at the last state election was a $7 million upgrade of the Murray Bridge hospital’s emergency department.

That project was completed in 2020.

Liberal MP Adrian Pederick is seeking a fifth term in office at the election.

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