Kids at risk

THE desperate need for a new school crossing and school speed zone in Williams Street, Inverloch will be brought to the attention of the State Government.

The campaign comes after an Inverloch Primary School student was hit by a car while crossing Williams Street recently.

The girl, Celeste Petracca, is a Grade One student and suffered multiple broken bones in her leg, concussion from a head injury, and a fractured heel and toe.

Her mother Raewyn Petracca feels lucky her daughter is still alive.

Mrs Petracca supports the construction of a new supervised crossing in Williams Street.

“I have felt pressured for the kids to be road smart so much earlier because we had no crossing,” she said.

“Kids should be able to safely walk to school, especially where we live.”

Mrs Petracca does not feel comfortable with her children crossing at the Williams Street-Bayview Avenue roundabout after close encounters with fast travelling vehicles.

Williams Street is used by parents to park while dropping off and picking up children at the school, and increasingly so as the school’s growing enrolments place pressure on limited parking within the school vicinity.

The school has a supervised crossing in Bayview Avenue, but that crossing is some distance from Williams Street, which also serves as a major thoroughfare.

Bass MLA Brian Paynter will lobby the State Government for a supervised crossing and school zone speed limit of 40km/h during school drop-off and pick-up times.

He will raise the issue in State Parliament on August 7 and write to Victorian Roads Minister Luke Donnellan, calling for action.

“Is there anything more precious to protect other than our children?” Mr Paynter said.

“We need to listen to our school community because if there is a risk to our children, we need to eliminate it.

“Reducing the speed limit to 40km/h will assist protect the community. No studies, no assessments, just action.”

Labor candidate for Bass Jordan Crugnale said a school crossing and a 40km/h speed limit must be created in Williams Street “as a matter of priority”.

“I feel for the parents and the young girl who was injured,” she said.

“If this was Melbourne, it would be 40km/h near the school and where parents drop off their children. Even Dandenong Road in Windsor, one of the busiest roads in Melbourne, drops the speed limit to 40km/h during school times.

“We must listen to the school community and work to ensure the safety of all the 430 students using any of the three entry points.

“It really needs the installation of electronic flashing signage, as does the Powlett/Sandymount end.”

Inverloch Primary School principal Brett Smith said with growing enrolments and more housing on the east side of Inverloch, the school is pursuing options with Bass Coast Shire Council to help students cross Williams Street more safely.

“Ideally we would like a supervised crossing, a review and change to the speed limit with the hope of a 40km/h school zone. We would also like the awareness of the area being a school zone through greater signage for drivers entering Inverloch,” he said.

“Our growing enrolments have put pressure on parking and we guide our parents and carers to the better places to park and pick up children.”

Council has been in communication with Inverloch Primary School since the accident.

Council’s general manager advocacy economy and liveability, Allison Jones, said, “We have discussed road safety and considered the options of an additional crossing and 40km/h school zone in Williams Street.

“Council will continue to work with Inverloch Primary School, providing advice and assistance for road safety. There are common standards applied across Victoria for school crossings and speed zones.

“In the instance that the location qualifies for a crossing, council will submit the relevant applications and support the school in advocating to VicRoads to change the school zone and school crossings.”

VicRoads eastern regional director Scott Lawrence said, “We’ll work with Bass Coast Shire Council and Inverloch Primary School to investigate how we can improve safety on this section of Williams Street.”

Police said the incident was an accident and the driver was not at fault.

Time for action: Bass MLA Brian Paynter will call on the State Government for a supervised crossing and 40km/h speed zone in Williams Street, Inverloch.

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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Jul 31 2018. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry