Not my shout: North Sydney Council excludes Redlands and Aloysius from a Green Schools Grants program.

While schools across the North Sydney region will enjoy local government funding for new gardens and learning spaces, Redlands and St Aloysius College will not be among them.

🏫What happened: On Monday evening, North Sydney Councillors voted unanimously to exclude two private schools from their “Green Schools” grant program, citing the fact that neither institution pays council rates. 

• The grants purpose is to fund projects at schools and preschools promoting environmental sustainability. 

🐸What are the projects? Those which did receive approval include the construction of a frog habitat & outdoor learning space at Cammeray Public School, a roof-top garden space at Cammeraygal High School, and the planting of native flora at Neutral Bay and Lavender Bay preschools.

• A council report also recommended the funding of projects at the two private schools, but all ten councillors voted to exempt the schools from the program.

💰Time to pay up? The decision reflects a larger trend among councillors, who lately — amid a period of financial distress for the council — have questioned why private schools remain exempt from the same rates paid by businesses. 

Councillor Shannon Welch, who moved the motion, put it simply to the Lorikeet: “they have the money, and they don’t pay council rates.”

The Lorikeet has contacted both Redlands and St Aloysius College for comment.

Image credit: St Aloysius College