Kilmore to get a public secondary school under a Liberal and Nationals Government

The commitment was announced at a packed community forum in Kilmore on Tuesday by Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland MP.

Kilmore is one of Victoria's fastest-growing communities, yet after 12 years of Labor, local families still do not have a public secondary school in the community.

Instead, students are travelling out of Kilmore to access secondary education, while Broadford Secondary College continues to face growing pressure from students travelling in from surrounding communities.

The campaign for a Kilmore public secondary school has been one of Ms Cleeland’s defining fights since she entered Parliament.

"So tonight, I make this promise to you: when the Liberals and Nationals are elected to government this November, we will deliver a public secondary school for Kilmore," Ms Cleeland said.

"Not a feasibility study that goes nowhere. Not another zoning trick. A real plan — a site, a build, a timeline this community can actually hold us to.

"Kilmore is growing, our families are growing, and our children deserve a public secondary school close to home.

"That is not good enough, and it is not a fair deal for regional families."

The forum heard directly from Kilmore students about the impact of travelling long distances for secondary school, including the anxiety and isolation it causes for some young people.

Ms Cleeland said she had raised the issue in Parliament more than thirty times, and had personally written to then-Education Minister, now Premier, Ben Carroll asking the government to purchase the former Colmont School site as a stepping stone toward a public secondary school for Kilmore. The request was rejected.

Shadow Minister for Education Brad Rowswell said regional students should not miss out simply because they live outside metropolitan Melbourne.

"Every child deserves access to a great local public education, regardless of where they live," Mr Rowswell said.

"For too long, regional communities have been asked to wait while population growth puts more pressure on existing schools.

"Our Fair Share Guarantee is about changing that, making sure regional Victoria gets its fair share of investment in the infrastructure our communities need."

Ms Cleeland said the commitment was about planning ahead for Kilmore's future rather than continuing to play catch-up.

"Kilmore is growing quickly and we need to make sure our infrastructure keeps pace with that growth," Ms Cleeland said.

"Our kids should be able to go to school in their own community.

"A Liberal and Nationals Government will make sure regional Victoria, and regional students most of all, get the fair share they deserve."