By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
WITH summer fast approaching, Casey council is set to launch its own campaign next month, warning parents against leaving their children in parked cars.
The plan is outlined in this week’s council agenda, after Cr Amanda Stapledon met with council officers last month to discuss the viability of setting up a Casey-wide campaign to tie in with Kidsafe Victoria’s current ‘Do Not Leave Children In Cars’ initiative.
At a meeting in August, the City of Casey resolved to investigate launching their own campaign on the back of a push from Moonee Valley City Council, which it is been reported will spend around $50,000 to install Kidsafe signs at 246 council-run off-street parking facilities.
But the Casey officers have advised Cr Stapledon that the funds – $42,560 – to purchase and install ‘Do Not Leave Children in Cars’ signs in her municipality is not allocated in the current budget, and would require referral to council’s mid-year budget review for consideration.
However, several other actions for Casey’s campaign have been provisionally agreed upon, including conducting awareness activities from December to Mid-March 2016, purchasing a KidSafe Victoria community awareness kit, and identifying and prioritising 15 council-owned car parks for sign placement.
The City of Casey is also planning to release RACV ‘Check Keys-Check Kids’ lanyards and window stickers at council events.
Cr Stapledon has previously said money spent on the campaign would be worth the investment.
Between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014, Ambulance Victoria paramedics rescued 1165 children who had been left unattended in a car.
Through tests, Ambulance Victoria has also found a car can reach 44C within 10 minutes on a 29C day.
“It’s a problem that’s Victoria-wide and not isolated to Mooney Valley,” Cr Stapledon said.
“ … We’ve got an obligation as community leaders to ensure our kids are safe – if it just requires a reminder then that’s a great outcome.”
The Napthine Government last year raised the penalty for leaving a child in a locked car to $3690 and a maximum of six months’ jail.
For more information, visit www.kidsafevic.com.au.
