Armstrong Creek parents want answers about ‘empty’ secondary school election promise

Parents living in one of Geelong’s fastest growing suburbs are desperate for a secondary school, saying they are feeling let down by “empty” state government promises.

Armstrong Creek parents and residents Jacky Basset, Lauren Piechota and Sherryn Vessey at the site earmarked for a secondary school. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Parents in a booming Geelong suburb are desperate for information regarding a new secondary school they say was promised to them by “missing in action” South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman.

Mr Cheeseman pledged $1m in the weeks leading up to the 2022 election that would see a business case developed for a secondary school that would cater for the fast-growing population in Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek.

Mr Cheeseman said at the time that a re-elected Labor government would deliver the business case to “establish a brand new secondary school for the rapidly growing Mount Duneed community”.

“People love living here and there’s been a strong ask from the community for us to establish a secondary school,” he said.

“I’m really proud we’ve been able to secure this commitment to deliver a business case for a brand new secondary school.”

Darren Cheeseman’s November 2022 Facebook post. Source: Facebook.

Fast forward 18 months and next to no information has emerged, leaving parents of primary school aged children unsure of their secondary school options.

Sherryn Vessey, a member of the local Armstrong Owners’ Committee, is frustrated by what she said was a lack of urgency from the government.

She said boarding at a site on the corner of Sovereign Drive and Boundary Road promoted a “future secondary school”, but there was no other information forthcoming.

Ms Vessey said many within the community were unimpressed with Mr Cheeseman’s advocacy for the school.

“Now he is missing in action and I think the community feel he has done nothing for them,” she said.

Mr Cheeseman was again absent from parliament this week as he remained on sick leave after being booted from Labor in late April following multiple allegations of “persistent, inappropriate behaviour” towards female staff.

He is expected to return to Spring St on June 18, assuming he does not extend his leave or resign from parliament altogether.

Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll was contacted for comment.

It remains unclear whether the business case been completed.

The Victorian School Building Authority website does not show that a new school or planning project is underway at the Mount Duneed site.

Armstrong Creek parents Sherryn Vessey, Lauren Piechota and Jacky Basset have yet to see any progress for a new secondary school to cater for the region’s growing population. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Mount Duneed resident Erin Craven said it had been difficult to decide where to send her son, currently in grade six, to secondary school.

She said Grovedale College was an option but students had to cross the busy Baanip Bvd and Surf Cost Highway, or Oberon High which was on the eastern side of the highway.

“Unfortunately it (the new secondary school) is going to be too late for my son, but where are the other kids going to go?” she said.

“I don’t think Darren Cheeseman has done enough to advocate for the school.

“We have been vocal about the need for a (new) school and he was adamant there was no need, up until the last election.

“It feels like an empty promise.”

Ms Vessey said many people purchased houses in the area under the impression a new secondary school would be built.

She said the government’s promise to build more than 400 houses near Waurn Ponds rail station would create further demand.

“Mr Cheeseman’s stance to the community, post the election, has been that he kept his election promise for the business case and planning of the secondary school,” she said.

“But we now clearly need more than planning – we need action now.

“The government’s known this for at least two years but nothing’s happened.

“It’s not a problem you can ignore.”

Mr Cheeseman’s promise in 2018 for a Torquay community hospital has not eventuated and there are fears it never will.

Originally published as Armstrong Creek parents want answers about ‘empty’ secondary school election promise