New secondary school for growing Calliope

The Queensland Government will open a new secondary school in Calliope in 2020 to meet growth in the region.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Education Minister Kate Jones made the announcement with Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher at the site of the future school on Don Cameron Drive in Calliope, which is located about 23 kilometres southwest of Gladstone.

Ms Palaszczuk said there were currently no state or non-state secondary schools in the growing region of Calliope.

“At the moment we have around 360 students from Calliope and surrounding areas who travel to Gladstone to attend a state secondary school,” she said.

“Our population projections for the Gladstone region show the area is growing quickly and local schools will see increased enrolment pressure in the coming years.

“I’m pleased to announce we will build a new secondary school in Calliope, in the hinterland southwest of Gladstone, to meet this growth and to be ready for the start of school in 2020.”

Ms Jones said local member Glenn Butcher had made an election commitment to ensure the Don Cameron Drive site was not sold off.

“The previous LNP government tried to sell this land but we have taken it off the market to ensure it remains available for this vital new school in Calliope,” she said.

“The Department of Education and Training has owned the site for many years, always with the plan that it would be used for a secondary school in the future.

“The Newman Government put it on the market in 2013 but thankfully this important parcel of land did not sell.

“Mr Butcher has continued to make a strong case for a new school in Calliope on this site and I’m pleased to be able to make a firm commitment to the local community that the land will be retained and a new secondary school will be built on the site in the coming years.”

Mr Butcher said a new secondary school was a major win for Calliope.

“My community have spoken loud and clear that they need a high school in Calliope and I know how important it is for families to have access to quality education locally,” he said.

“I am determined to see this new secondary school built and operating in Calliope and I look forward to continuing to listen and to work with our community as we plan this project for the future.”

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