General News
9 September, 2025
Bushfire program bolsters MEC
Maryborough Education Centre (MEC) is one of many government schools across Victoria to be funded by the State Government’s $8.4 million Bushfire Preparedness Vegetation Program (BPVP).
The State Government is ensuring schools across the state are well prepared for the upcoming bushfire season by providing grants to clear vegetation growth and reduce the risk of fire.
Due to it’s proximity to bushland, MEC is required to undertake vegetation works on a regular basis to reduce the risk of harm to the school’s community and buildings in the event of a bushfire.
MEC principal Kristen Le Gassick welcomed the funding.
“We have been part of the program before. Things we have done include removing some of the dangerous trees around the school. We have also installed some gutter guards around the gutters and cleaned them out,” she said.
“We have also upgraded our PA systems so if we need to call an emergency, people can actually hear that.”
Ms Le Gassick said the school grounds undergo a vast range of maintenence works to ensure the site is bushfire safe, with the funding ensuring these works can continue prior to future fire seasons.
“Looking at what we are planning to do this term from the funding is maintain and extend the break around the perimeter of the school,” she said.
“It is still a cost to have to maintain that because it is quite a large bushland around the school, so we need to be making sure we’ve got a retainment line.”
Other works done at the school in the lead up to the fire season include removing logs from the playground that are combustible and shrubs from the garden that contradict the school’s bushfire management plan.
This funding also gives schools access to additional bushfire related professional services, such as a Bushfire Attack Level expert, to provide further advice and support in reducing their bushfire risk.
“Any one of us at any time can be in a situation where we are caught in a bushfire, and understanding the basics around survival is really important,” Ms Le Gassick said.
“I think it is really important that the department does recognise that some schools do need this extra funding that not all schools might need.”
Maryborough’s A G Leech and Roseberry Hill kindergartens also received funding.