Mayor Kontelj wants clarity over Mount Duneed Secondary School status

Geelong’s mayor has asked the government to fulfil its promise to deliver a school in one of the region’s growing suburbs after he was snubbed by the Education Minister.

Sherryn Vessey at the proposed secondary school site in Mount Duneed that was promised in 2022 but appears to have been quietly scrapped. Picture: Alison Wynd

The mayor and Geelong families have panned the state government for failing to deliver a promised secondary school in one of the region’s fastest growing suburbs.

A plot of land at the corner of Sovereign Drive and Boundary Rd in Mount Duneed was in 2012 slated to be the site of a new secondary school, with funding for a business plan secured in the 2022-23 state budget.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said he was snubbed by the state Education Minister after he asked for an update on the project, with the department now saying it has no plans for the project to go ahead.

“Last month, I personally wrote to Victorian Minister for Education Ben Carroll on behalf of residents to seek an update on progress and to urge the State Government to honour their promise to deliver the secondary school in Mount Duneed,” Mr Kontelj said.

“The minister did not reply, but the Department of Education now states ‘there are no current plans to open Armstrong Creek West Proposed 7-12’.”

The site at the corner of Sovereign Drive and Boundary Rd. Picture: Alison Wynd

Victorian Government spokeswoman said “we have invested $1 million to plan for a future secondary college that will cater for the Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek West community and this planning work is currently underway”.

“We monitor enrolments and population projections, alongside our work with local authorities and organisations to make sure that we have enough school places for the future,” she said.

Mr Kontelj said this response would be a “serious blow to many families in the area because they made decisions to buy and build homes based on previous promises”.

“The Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek communities seek quality state government education facilities close to home,” Mr Kontelj said.

“Current school zoning misrepresents local access, due to the significant pedestrian barriers to existing State schools.

“The walking time to Grovedale College is 46 minutes, despite it being located only 0.8km as the crow flies, due to the train line.

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

“Oberon High School is a one hour walk away and requires crossing a highway.”

Local mother Sherryn Vessey, a member of the local Armstrong Owners’ Committee, said the situation was “ridiculous”.

“There’s lots of frustrated parents in the community about the lack of action,” Ms Vessey said.

“I’m a realist, I’ve got a little boy in grade one, hopefully by the time he’s in high school he’ll be able to walk down the end of our street.”

Embattled South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman pledged $1m for the school in the lead up to the 2022 state election to see a business case developed.

Darren Cheeseman's Facebook announcement regarding funding for a business case for a new school in Mount Duneed

Mr Kontelj said he wanted to see the vow fulfilled and referred to Mr Cheeseman’s words before the last election.

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

Mr Kontelj said it was now time for the state to honour that promise.

Ms Vessey said it was disheartening to have to lobby the government again after already being promised the facility.

“The end of 2026 is the next state election, then we’ve got to go through the whole rigmarole of doing it all again,” she said.

“I think it’s also a bit of an indictment of our local member and his lack of inaction to what the community really needs.”

Mr Cheeseman’s office was contacted for comment.

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Originally published as Mayor Kontelj wants clarity over Mount Duneed Secondary School status