The NSW Government announced last week $15 million in funding to begin replacing unflued gas heaters in the coldest areas of the state.
The Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth said around 100 schools would be the first to have their heaters replaced in consultation with key stakeholders.
“The Government commissioned a report into the type of heaters used in our schools by the independent Woolcock Institute and we look forward to the release of the report once it has been peer reviewed and published.
“Recently I announced that the installation of unflued gas heaters would be put on hold for new projects under the Building the Education Revolution and we’re now expanding that to include these extra schools” said Ms Firth.
“For schools in the coldest areas of the state, it can be difficult to provide adequate ventilation while keeping the room warm, so it makes sense to replace the heaters in those schools first.”
“We expect this replacement program to be completed before next winter” she said.
“The Government will continue to be guided by the advice from scientific experts on this issue and we will provide a further response once the report is finalised and published.”
Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly has welcomed the decision saying “many of the schools affected by this decision will fall in Eden-Monaro due to the cool climate experienced across the region in Winter and the need to use heaters for extended periods during the year.”
The ‘Campaign Opposing Unflued Gas Heaters’ (COUGH) said the decision was a “win for people power” after a six-year community based campaign by concerned parents.
C.O.U.G.H Executive member and Hazelbrook Public School P&C President Ms Jo Keown thanked the NSW Government for its quick response to the Woolcock report and said that “homeowners also needed to carefully examine the health implications of the estimated 600,000-unflued gas heaters in homes in NSW.”
However the Asthma Foundation NSW has expressed disappointment over the announcement to only replace unflued gas heaters in only 100 “Cold Climate” public schools by next winter while still maintaining that the heaters are safe.”
Greg Smith, CEO of Asthma Foundation NSW said “we will continue to press the present Government and the Opposition for a commitment to replace the other 50,900 heaters used in NSW public schools in a timely fashion after the election.”
“Studies in 2004 and 2005 concluded they were unsafe and should be removed from schools and a recently published Government memo admiting that “…a substantial proportion” of the 51,000 unflued gas heaters used in NSW public schools “… were testing at Nitrogen Dioxide levels over that considered safe for human exposure” said Mr Smith.
“Data from the NSW Government’s own testing, which was done in the Blue Mountains in 2008 shows that the gas exceeded the WHO standards in 30% of the classrooms. Science does not support the Government’s position and neither does the evidence coming from health professionals or the community.”
Almost one million schooldays each year are lost because of asthma.
Asthma is the No.1 reason while children (0-14 years) present to Accident & Emergency.
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