By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
TWO years after the local community tried and failed to get the speed limit lowered at a notorious Berwick school crossing, the campaign is back on the cards.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan is again calling for a school zone to be implemented at Ernst Wanke Road, near Timbarra P-9 College and Parkhill Plaza, after new speed guidelines were introduced by VicRoads in November last year.
It comes after a campaign in 2011 which saw a 341-signature petition presented to Casey Council calling for a school zone extension in the area.
The council supported a change to the speed limit at the time, but the request was knocked backed by VicRoads, as the previous speed guidelines would not allow for a school zone extension due to a fence line technicality.
The new guidelines allow a school speed zone to be introduced at a remote crossing which operates away from the school frontage, which includes the crossing at Ernst Wanke Road.
The new guidelines also stipulate that at least 20 students and 300 vehicles must use the crossing per hour before a school zone can be considered.
Mr Donnellan said the campaign had received substantial support from former Casey Councillor Judy Owen and Timbarra Parents Association member Sue Wren.
“As the school has expanded, more students are using roads around Timbarra,” Mr Donnellan said.
“This is an issue of common sense. Finally, we should get some action.”
City of Casey manager Transport Paul Hamilton said council needed to seek VicRoads approval before any speed limit changes could be made on council roads, such as Ernst Wanke.
“As soon as the council received the new guidelines, officers commenced preparing an application to VicRoads to have part-time school speed zones introduced at five locations in Casey where supervised flagged school crossings operate away from the school frontage,” he said.
“Ernst Wanke Road near Parkhill Plaza is one of the locations submitted. The application was submitted to VicRoads in January 2014 and the council is awaiting a response.”
A change to the speed limit on Ernst Wanke Drive would only apply during school hours.
