Corrie Williams with Jordan and Tauri are thrilled Casey council will install a manned school crossing outside Strathaird Primary School. 37460Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Kelly Yates
A NARRE Warren South school community is thrilled that Casey Council is set to install a manned school crossing outside their school.
Parent Corrie Williams has been pushing the council for the past two years to implement the safety measure for the Strathaird Primary School at the intersection of Beethoven Drive and Community Parade.
“We’re so pleased that it’s finally going ahead. We still can’t believe it,” Ms Williams said.
City of Casey transport manager Paul Hamilton said the council was aiming to have the school crossing operational for the start of the 2010 school year.
As previously reported in the News in July, Ms Williams said the intersection was a danger to both students and parents trying to cross the road.
“A number of them take a chance, hold their breath and just simply run across the road,” she said.
In the past, the council had done several audits at the intersection and discerned that there were not enough children and cars in the area to warrant a manned school crossing. The physical layout was also a problem due to the proposed site being too close to residential homes, a roundabout and a bus stop.
Acting principal Martin Shepherd told the News he was pleased the school would be getting the much-needed crossing.
Ms Williams said she would now play the waiting game for the manned school crossing.
City of Casey community safety manager Caroline Bell said school crossings in Casey were generally staffed for 45 minutes each morning and afternoon during the hours of 8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm.
She said an assessment would be made closer to the establishment of the crossing to determine the most appropriate times of operation.
There are currently 153 crossings in the City of Casey, many of which are multi-staffed.
