By Casey Neill
Greater Dandenong Council is pushing for a Keysborough South secondary school and calling on neighbour Kingston to join in.
At the Monday 24 July council meeting, councillor Matthew Kirwan proposed advocacy for a high school to service Keysborough’s new estates and surrounding suburbs.
“In recent weeks we have had the great news that land has been secured for a primary school in the new estates of Keysborough,” he said.
“But with many parents having children already started at another primary school, or already looking ahead to when their children will finish primary school, the calls for a government secondary school in this area are continuing to grow.
“Students are not going to school with their neighbours – but to many different secondary schools in many different suburbs to cope with the demand.”
Cr Kirwan said this issue was not new to the council.
“Just over a year ago … this council resolved to begin advocating for a P-12 school in the new estates of Keysborough,” he said.
“Soon after, it was announced that the state proposed to buy land to build a government primary school.
“This notice of motion updates the already existing advocacy position to reflect the current situation.”
The Journal revealed in July that Keysborough’s animal shelter was moving out of Homeleigh Road and a 475-student capacity school was moving in.
Cr Kirwan said any new government secondary school “would serve a region, not just the new estates of Keysborough” so successfully proposed writing to the Kingston councillors for their support, data and potential joint advocacy on the matter.
His fellow councillors also agreed to write to Education Minister James Merlino and Keysborough MP Martin Pakula about the issue.
