By Danielle Kutchel
A Berwick school is at loggerheads with Casey Council over plans for a proposed footpath.
The Bernly Gardens Recreation Reserve project is underway next door to Berwick Chase Primary School, with construction of a community pavilion, cricket training nets and sports field lighting set to be completed soon.
As part of the project, the City of Casey plans to build a new footpath, which would run between the reserve and Berwick Chase Primary School to link Viewgrand Drive and Bernly Boulevard.
But the school council vigorously opposes these plans, saying they would disadvantage students and parents.
The school has an existing ‘western entrance’ on Bernly Boulevard, directly opposite on-street parking that is used by an estimated 3000 people per week.
Casey Council has proposed constructing a pedestrian crossing near the entrance to the new oval on Bernly Boulevard – but parent members would prefer the crossing to be placed closer to existing on-street parking and the western entrance.
According to parent members of the school council, Casey Council has proposed the school shut its existing entrance and create a new point of entry where the new footpath would go.
“This is the furthest point away from the school buildings, and does not link up with existing school pathway infrastructure, meaning they are forcing us to spend money on pathways,” the parent members said in a statement.
That money would have to come out of the school’s facilities budget, they claimed.
Parent members said the council’s proposed footpath would drastically increase the distance students and parents needed to travel to reach the school, and would be open to the elements in inclement weather.
They said the path would offer little to no visibility to parents parked on Bernly Boulevard, who would watch their children disappear down the path to the other side of the school to enter.
Wheelchair users parking in the existing on-street parking would also struggle, they said, as there would be no pathway on the school side to get to the new entrance.
The western entrance has to be reached by crossing a ditch, which can get muddy during the winter months.
The parent members would prefer a cross-over pathway to be built to better access this entrance.
Instead, the council has proposed closing the existing western entrance during the wet months – an option parent members slammed as “unrealistic”.
A survey of parents undertaken by the school council showed the majority were not in favour of the council’s plans.
“Casey Council, to our knowledge, has not approached any parents/guardians attending the school to discuss the impact closing the entrance, or utilising a new entrance, would have on their daily school experience,” the parent members said.
“Casey Council has shared its plans with Berwick Chase School council, but it has not deviated from the original plans even with consistent feedback from the school that the proposed plans do not accommodate the existing western entrance.”
City of Casey manager of city and asset planning Keri New said the council had been working closely with the school on the project.
She said school representatives had been supportive of the project, including the new school gate connected to the new path, and stressed the school had not been asked to financially contribute to the project.
“The new, additional school gate location will provide an all-weather alternative, which can be used during the wet season,” she said.
“The existing school gate will still be available for use during the drier months.”
Accessible parking would continue to be available within the school car park with two additional spaces added close to the reserve, along with a path connection.
“Council officers will continue to work with school management on the works between the reserve path and the school grounds,” Ms New said.
