Labor commits $1m for new Armstrong Creek secondary college

LABOR will take steps towards building another secondary school in Armstrong Creek if it wins the November 26 election, pledging to put $1 million towards planning for the project.

Premier Daniel Andrews and South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman visited Mirripoa Primary School in Armstrong Creek earlier this week to discuss the commitment with staff and pupils and tour the school, which Labor opened in 2020.

Oberon High School relocated from Belmont and opened on the eastern side of Armstrong Creek last year, but the western side of Armstrong Creek does not yet have a secondary school.

However, the Armstrong Mt Duneed estate – which comprises most of the development on that side of the growth area – has a secondary school slated in its masterplan to be built on the corner of Boundary Road and Sovereign Drive, to the north of Mirripoa Primary School and the existing sporting ovals.

 

In the South Barwon electorate, Labor said it had created new or upgraded facilities at Highton Primary School, Bellaire Primary School, Mount Duneed Regional Primary School, St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School, Grovedale West Primary School, Nazareth School, Iona College and Geelong Lutheran College.

“Every family should have a great local school. That’s why I’m so proud the Andrews Labor Government will invest $1 million to begin planning for a new secondary school so kids in Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed have the world-class classrooms they deserve,” Mr Cheeseman said.

“The best teachers can’t do the best job in ageing classrooms and out-of-date facilities. That’s why we’ve invested more than $12.8 billion to build and upgrade schools in every corner of the state – making sure every student has every chance.”

Labor says it has already funded or opened 75 of the 100 new schools it promised to build by 2026 and has invested in more than 1,850 upgrades to schools since coming to government, which has supported more than 17,400 jobs in construction alone.

“We want every Victorian to have the best start in life – that’s why we’ve invested more than $400 million in education, training and skills in the Geelong region,” Mr Andrews said.

“Labor is doing what matters – we’re planning for a future with investments in new schools and upgrading school facilities across Geelong, because you can’t get a first-rate education in a second-rate classroom.”

This week’s pledge followed Mr Cheeseman’s election commitment last month to put $3.6 million to deliver the remaining works in the master plan at Mount Duneed Regional Primary School.