Negotiations are underway for a long-awaited secondary school in Geelong\u2019s southern growth corridor, with the state government moving to secure land in Mount Duneed.<\/p>\n
The government confirmed it has allocated $104 million has been allocated in the state budget to acquire sites for future schools, including a parcel at the corner of Sovereign Drive and Boundary Road.<\/p>\n
In 2022, South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman pledged $1 million towards a business case for a new high school in the growth area, but there has been little movement since.<\/p>\n
The Mount Duneed site was first identified for a high school in a 2012 precinct plan, with pressure mounting in recent years as multiple new primary schools opened without a corresponding secondary option.<\/p>\n
Labor candidate for South Barwon Rebecca Thistleton said a local high school was essential.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s been great to see how many primary schools have opened up in the area \u2013 we had Biyala Primary and Yirrama Primary open at the start of this year \u2013 but families want to be able to send their kids to a great local high school as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Thistleton joined parliamentary secretary for education Nina Taylor at the site on Friday to announce the funding, which allows negotiations with the current landowner, Villawood Properties, to begin.<\/p>\n
Neither would be drawn on a timeline for the school\u2019s completion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great we have this announcement and we have the funding allocated in the budget. That means that we are on the path to delivering a wonderful new public secondary school for Mount Duneed, but I won’t undermine the tender process,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n
Taylor said population growth data from the Department of Transport had guided where new schools were needed.<\/p>\n
Concerns about the lack of a local high school have been ongoing.<\/p>\n
In 2025, City of Greater Geelong councillor Andrew Katos warned secondary education in the area was lagging behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe needs of families in our area are being recognised at other levels of schooling,\u201d Cr Katos wrote in a column published by this paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, the establishment of secondary schools has fallen behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students in Mount Duneed currently face walks of up to 45 minutes to Grovedale or Oberon College, often crossing busy roads or rail lines.<\/p>\n
Cr Katos said many families moved to the area expecting a local high school to be delivered.<\/p>\n
Thistleton said the project would provide certainty for current and future residents.<\/p>\n
“Making sure that you’ve got the services that you need is always a big factor when you’re choosing where you want to raise a family, and build a house,\u201d Thistleton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s really good to be able to give them the certainty they need to know that if they’re coming here to raise their family, everything that they need to have a really strong and solid community is going to be here for them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Negotiations are underway for a long-awaited secondary school in Geelong\u2019s southern growth corridor, with the state government moving to secure land in Mount Duneed. The government confirmed it has allocated $104 million has been allocated in the state budget to acquire sites for future schools, including a parcel at the corner of Sovereign Drive and […]<\/p>\n