Mitchell Shire Council has welcomed a $50 million election commitment to build a new TAFE campus near Kalkallo, which would give people in Beveridge, Wallan and surrounding communities more training options close to home.
What's been announced?
The campus near Kalkallo is one of two new TAFE campuses Labor has committed to for Melbourne's outer north and west. The other is in Wyndham. Both are part of a $170 million investment in Victorian TAFE.
The campus is an election commitment. It isn't funded or confirmed yet.
What would the campus offer?
The campus would train people in:
- construction and trades
- logistics
- health and community services
- early childhood education
- renewable energy.
Why does it matter for Mitchell?
Families moving into new estates across Melbourne's north rely on builders, electricians, plumbers, childcare educators and health workers. A local campus would mean more people can train for those jobs, or retrain, without leaving the region.
Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said the campus would be a significant win for the region and the kind of investment it had needed for years.
"This commitment is great news for our community. A campus near Kalkallo would mean people across our growth corridor can train or retrain close to home," Cr Dougall said.
"Every new suburb in the north needs tradespeople to build it and teachers, nurses and carers to run it. Training them closer to home keeps those jobs local."
How does it connect to Cloverton?
The campus would be near Cloverton, the new city centre planned for Melbourne's north. Hume City Council, Mitchell Shire Council and the City of Whittlesea are planning Cloverton together. The three councils have called for infrastructure to be built early, before the people who need it arrive.
"This is exactly what we've been asking for. Education facilities need to be in place when families move in, not years after the houses are built," Cr Dougall said.
What happens next?
Council wants to see the campus funded and built. Council is calling on all parties and candidates contesting the State Election to commit to tertiary education and essential infrastructure in the northern growth corridor, including a major public hospital and public transport.
See the election commitments made so far for Mitchell Shire on our 2026 State Election and commitments page
