In 2007, the school bought 20hectares near Montgomery's Lane to the north-west of Woodend.

The planning scheme amendment C45 seeks to rezone the land to Special Use Zone 5 with a development plan overlay.

The rezone will help in the development of a second Braemar campus, which will cater to primary children and year 9 students.

It is estimated the school will initially cater to 138 students, with eight full-time and eight part-time staff.

However, the expectation is the second campus will eventually cater to up to 550 students, with 35 full-time and 12 part-time staff.

The motion to exhibit the amendment for community consultation for a minimum of 30 days was supported by all councillors except Rob Guthrie, Neil Manning and Joan Donovan.

The council will seek the authorisation of the planning minister to amend the planning scheme to allow the development.

Cr Roger Jukes, who moved the motion, said it was important to get the plans debated and discussed in the community.

"It is an application for the development of a school to the north-west of Woodend and that's what we need to concentrate on at this point."

Cr Manning, speaking against the motion, said he did not believe any decision on the Braemar campus should come before the Woodend Outline Development Plan.

However, Mayor John Letchford said Braemar needed to expand to meet the growing demand for quality education facilities.

"The school will be ideally set in a rural conservation zone. It will be ideally located surrounded by open space and green pastures and paddock. I can't think of anything healthier for young people and their education. It will be idyllic."

He said the Woodend community would benefit from upgrades to unmade roads and that Braemar College had indicated the sporting ovals and centres would be available for public use.