09 AUGUST 2023 | ISSUE 530 | FREE
GOULBURN RIVER & RANGES
CHILDREN'S SCHOOL CROSSING WOES Children’s school crossings are placed at locations to help children and their families safely cross the road on their way to and from school. A school crossing supervisor adds an extra layer of protection to our community members and promotes a safe environment for our most vulnerable. At its March meeting Strathbogie Shire Council resolved to exit the school crossing supervisor program which was jointly funded by both council and state government to deliver the service. Council claimed that the service was costing ratepayers about $50,000 each year to deliver, despite it being a Victorian Government responsibility. This resulted in Strathbogie Shire ceasing to provide all
schools in the Shire with school crossing supervisors from the start of the second semester in 2023. The Department of Transport has since stepped in providing crossing supervisors at locations situated on ‘state roads’ leaving Nagambie Primary School to fend for themselves as they are situated on a road managed by council. The Nagambie Primary School crossing is now the only school formerly serviced by the Shire not being serviced by the Department of Transport leaving them with ino crossing supervisor. Seventy per cent of school crossings are on local roads –managed by local councils. Thirty per cent are on arterial roads – managed by the state government. Road safety is a joint accountability of state and local government. Under the Road Management Act 2004, and the Transport Integration Act 2010, state and local governments must provide for the safe use of roads, ensuring these meet the needs and priorities of our communities. This includes taking reasonable precautions in response to foreseeable road safety risks. The Community Voice saw first hand how busy Goulburn Street is at the start of the school day visiting Nagambie Primary School Principal Mr Rob French who has added the role of school crossing supervisor
to his daily schedule. “Between 8:30am and 9am each morning, it is common to have over 20 trucks pass through the crossing, including many concrete trucks and semi-trailers. Two coaches, including the VLine service and school buses pass through. Wide load relocatable cabins from the flooded caravan park are being transported to the Gervale Homes factory, in addition to new cabins travelling the other way,” said Mr French. “It is the access route to the Shire depot, the train station, the industrial estate, a sand and gravel yard, concrete plant, bus depot, storage and furniture removal yard and the new Gervale Homes manufacturing factory. Trucks and traffic involved in the upgrade to the railway line are also currently travelling up and down Goulburn St,” said Mr French. “The Nagambie Primary School have an enrolment of 162 students and a staff of 23 and the removal of a crossing supervisor has created a major road safety risk, putting the safety of our students, staff, families and community at risk,” added Mr French. “It is our understanding that Goulburn St clearly meets the criteria for the provision of a crossing supervisor,” said Principal Rob French.
Parent and Nagambie Primary School Council President, Paul Swan said, “As a parent of a Grade 2 student and the Nagambie school council president, I believe the decision by the Strathbogie Shire Councillors to remove the school crossing supervisor was extremely short sighted! “This decision (to exit the school crossing program) was all about money and nothing to do with children's safety,” added Mr Swan. A government spokesperson said, “We are disappointed with Strathbogie Shire Council’s decision to withdraw from the School Crossing Supervisor Program. “We will continue to work with councils to support the program across Victoria, and the opportunity will remain available for Strathbogie Shire Council to reenter the partnership and receive subsidy funding for eligible sites should they choose to.” A contribution from Strathbogie Shire to ensure the safety of children and families across 5 locations and the continuation of the school crossing supervisor seems unlikely to be challenged by the ratepayer considering there are hundreds of students and families using the service on a daily basis.