Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj has struck out at the Allan government for its lack of progress on a secondary school in Armstrong Creek.
One of the fastest growing areas in the country, Armstrong Creek has only one government secondary school, Oberon High School, while Mount Duneed families also have access to Grovedale College.
Mayor Kontelj said families in Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek “have a right to be angry at the Victorian government for failing to deliver on their promise to build a new secondary school”.
“A school on the corner of Sovereign Drive and Boundary Road was slated in 2012, but the site continues to sit empty more than 13 years later,” he said.
“In November 2022, weeks before the last state election, then-premier Daniel Andrews and South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman promised $1 million towards planning for a secondary school in Armstrong Creek.
“With this funding committed in the 2022–23 state budget, the school should now be well positioned to progress.”
Mayor Kontelj said he wrote to Minister for Education Ben Carroll last month, seeking an update on progress, but received no response from the minister beyond a Department of Education statement that “there are no current plans to open Armstrong Creek West Proposed 7-12”.
“I know this response will be a serious blow to many families in the area because they made decisions to buy and build homes based on previous promises,” Mayor Kontelj said.
“The City welcomes the planned opening of the new Horseshoe Bend Primary School, and Warralily Park Primary School and Early Years Facilities in 2026, with kindergarten and primary education infrastructure keeping pace with demand.
“Unfortunately, the provision of secondary school options in the west of this growth area has lagged, despite the funding for the feasibility study and available land.”
Mayor Kontelj said it was time for the Labor government to honour its promise.
“The City calls on the minister and the Victorian government to take the next steps to supporting community liveability and our municipality’s housing targets set by the government,” he said.
The Department of the Premier and Cabinet and member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman were contacted for comment.
