School battles heat and gets fighter jet noise

Teachers and parents protest outside Grahamstown Public School.

Teachers at Grahamstown Public School, with the support of parents, stopped work for one hour on November 23 over noise issues at the school. Teachers, parents and community members met outside the school with placards protesting the issue.

Grahamstown Public School is under the direct take-off and landing zone of the RAAF base at Williamtown. There is constant aircraft noise, both from the F18 fighter jets, and also from commercial aircraft. Noise levels have been measured up to 121 decibels when F18s are landing.

During its construction 11 years ago, the school had extensive sound proofing installed, but no air conditioners were installed. As a result, in summer and winter (with unflued gas heaters fitted) doors and windows have to remain open to provide ventilation. The effectiveness of the sound proofing is therefore negligible.

Staff and parents have been seeking air conditioning for the past 10 years. The only response from governments to date has been for the federal member Bob Baldwin to blame the State Government, and state member John Bartlett to blame the Federal Government.

Federation Organiser Claire Shanahan said: "While they argue about whose responsibility it is, teaching and learning conditions suffer."

"It would cost less than $50,000 to provide air conditioning in the permanent classrooms," Ms Shanahan said.

At the stop work meeting, teacher and parents vowed to continue the fight, with further industrial and political action planned until the end of the year.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005