Regional schools ignored again as maintenance funding bypasses Ovens Valley

The Nationals’ Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, says the Allan Labor Government has once again overlooked struggling regional schools after the latest round of maintenance funding failed to include two schools already flagged as being in poor condition.

Earlier this year, Mr McCurdy raised serious concerns about the state of facilities at Mount Beauty Secondary College and Yarrawonga College P–12, after newly released Condition Assessment Scores showed both schools falling below the Victorian average.

However, despite those concerns being made public in January, neither school has been included in the March 2026 announcement of the Government’s Planned Maintenance Program.

Mr McCurdy said the decision shows just how little priority the Allan Labor Government places on regional students.

“Communities like Mount Beauty and Yarrawonga have already been told their schools are falling behind the rest of the state when it comes to infrastructure,” Mr McCurdy said.

“So you would think they would be at the front of the queue when maintenance funding is announced, instead they’ve been completely ignored.”

Mr McCurdy said the long-running Stage 3 redevelopment at Yarrawonga College P–12 must be properly funded in the upcoming May Budget, with more than $20 million required to finally complete the project after more than 15 years.

“Yarrawonga is one of the fastest growing communities in regional Victoria, with enrolments continuing to rise and new housing developments driving further demand, yet the school is still operating across two campuses with outdated facilities,” he said.

“Finishing Stage 3 will bring the school together, support growing student numbers and ensure local kids have access to the modern learning environments they need to succeed.”

Mr McCurdy said families and school communities were rightly frustrated.

“Students in regional Victoria should not be forced to learn in ageing classrooms while this government continues to mismanage billions of dollars,” he said.

“Labor claims Victoria is the ‘education state’, but when schools with known maintenance issues miss out on funding again, that claim is impossible to take seriously.

Labor can't manage money, and regional schools are paying the price.”