BROADFORD Secondary College is at the centre of election action, with announcements to help grow the school arriving thick and fast.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland announced that an elected Liberal-Nationals Government would invest $16 million to help complete the first stage of Broadford Secondary College’s master plan, while State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes announced the school would receive two double storey modular buildings early next year through the 2026/27 Modular Classrooms Program.
Ms Cleeland’s announcement was made last night alongside Shadow Minister for Education Brad Rowswell, saying Broadford needed permanent classrooms.
“Broadford is growing, the school is growing, and students deserve facilities that grow with them,” she said.
“Instead, Labor’s answer has been to keep putting portable classrooms on the site, with many relying on generators to operate, rather than delivering the permanent facilities this school needs.
“Basic portable classrooms cannot provide the specialised learning environments students need for subjects like science and art.
“Labor had 12 years to get this right. They promised funding in the 2026-27 State Budget, only for that commitment to disappear when the Budget papers were handed down.
“Students, families and teachers deserve better than another broken promise.
“This is about giving local students access to the facilities and opportunities they deserve, without having to miss out because they live in a growing regional community.”
Mr Rowswell said Broadford had ‘waited long enough’.
“Our Fair Share Guarantee means regional communities like Broadford will get a fairer share of infrastructure investment, so growing schools can get the facilities they need,” he said.
“Broadford Secondary College has waited long enough. It is time to stop making do with temporary solutions and deliver the permanent facilities students deserve.”
Ms Symes’ announcement on Friday promised two double-storey modular buildings, which will have four general purpose classrooms, a home economics classroom, a science room, a toilet facility with men’s and women’s bathroom facilities and a toilet with boys’ and girls’ bathroom facilities.
Kilmore Primary School will also benefit, with a dedicated men’s and women’s bathroom facility coming to the school.
It means Broadford is one of 27 Victorian schools which gets a double or triple-storey building under the Modular Classrooms Program, which will overall add 204 classrooms.
Ms Symes said it was a boost for Broadford.
“Every Victorian student deserves a great place to learn, and we’re delivering modern classrooms in the communities where they’re needed most,” she said.