One of Victoria's most popular state schools is set to open a new campus and potentially expand its coveted enrolment zone.
The Andrews government is in talks with landowners of a large industrial estate in East Bentleigh about securing a site for a new McKinnon Secondary College campus.
The changes could boost property values, and will trigger interest in apartments proposed for the Virginia Park site.
Bentleigh MP Nick Staikos said the new campus would address "huge" enrolment demand in the area.
He said said McKinnon Secondary College's zone would have to change to accommodate the new campus, which would be located just outside its existing zone.
A new campus would also ensure that its existing catchment zone, which is the smallest in the state, did not shrink.
The sought-after public school, which achieves some of the top VCE results in the state, has rolled out 34 portable classrooms to accommodate its booming enrolments, which have hit almost 2200 students.
"Nobody can say that having so many students on the one site is a good outcome," Mr Staikos said. "I think we can do better."
Principal Pitsa Binnion said she would like a new Year 9 campus on the 24-hectare site.
"It presents an exciting opportunity," she said.
"In year 9 a lot of kids become a little bit disengaged. It's about immersing them in city excursions, and looking at the skills and learning that they need."
She said the site presented a "once in a lifetime opportunity".
"It will never be available again."
Education Minister James Merlino said he had asked the Victorian School Building Authority to work with the site's owners.
"Any future funding for planning will be considered as part of the normal budget process," he said.
Glen Eira Council deputy mayor Jim Magee said he supported the new campus, as long as it meant that the school's zone expanded.
He said providing a school on the site, which developers are trying to rezone, would provide a "sweetener" for the community.
Council has previously rejected the developer's plans for the site because they did not fit with the character of the area.
The school's popularity has spurred a flurry of residential developments in its zone.
The nearby Claire Street used to have 11 houses, now it has 125 apartments, according to Mr Magee.
Make Property Group, which is leading the redevelopment, was contacted for comment. The Abacus Property Group and Gillon Group are also involved in the redevelopment.
The site is located on the eastern side of East Boundary Road and was used as a business estate in the 90s.