The Kilmore community’s push for a public secondary school has been ignored by the Andrews Labor Government.
The lack of action from the Government comes despite the Minister for Education writing to Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland in April to say a site had been identified for a public secondary school in Kilmore, following months of campaigning by Ms Cleeland.
Despite identifying a suitable parcel of land in the town, the Minister has since done a backflip stating, “there are no immediate plans to fund the construction or building of a secondary school in Kilmore”.
The Government doubled down on these claims in a recent Herald Sun article, saying once again that there were no plans for a secondary school in Kilmore.
With thousands of local residents signing petitions calling for the State Government to purchase the former Colmont School Campus, Ms Cleeland said the comments were a slap in the face to the Kilmore community.
“The community has made it very clear that a public secondary school is needed in Kilmore,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Kilmore is the largest town in Victorian without a public secondary school and it is shocking that in this day and age we have to fight for a basic right like an education.
“With nearby towns such as Broadford and Wallan at capacity, students as young as 12-years-old are having to make a two-hour commute to and from school each day.
“The Labor Government understands there is a need for a public secondary school in Kilmore but due to financial incompetence and overspend in Melbourne, it is refusing to take action.
“I’ve written to the Minister for Education asking for her to visit Kilmore and meet with locals to hear how important this issue is, but she hasn’t even bothered to reply.”
Shadow Minister for Education Matt Bach shared the concerns of Ms Cleeland and the Kilmore community, saying the Government’s baffling decision was true to form.
“It is clear that a new secondary school would massively benefit Kilmore,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it is par for the course for the Minister for Education to not even respond to the concerns of the community, or letters from Ms Cleeland.
“Under this increasingly arrogant Labor Government, we are seeing a failure to address the most pressing education issues across the State.”
The calls for a new school arise as the Mitchell Shire region experiences a period of significant population growth, with the population set to rise by 255 per cent in the next 20 years. Kilmore’s population is set to more than double in the same time period, rising from just over 10,000 people to nearly 23,000.
The only secondary schooling option currently in Kilmore is Assumption College, a private school that has fees starting from nearly $9000 a year.