Safety concerns as school crossing cash slashed

PARENTS and staff from Holy Rosary and Heathcote primary schools have said they are disappointed with a decision to discontinue funding for school crossing supervisors at High Street.

The move means from 2024 three school crossings in the area will not be supervised.

“The school community is concerned for the safety of local school kids,” said parent and Holy Rosary community engagement leader Tess Holmes.

“Last term, we were contacted by a representative from the City of Greater Bendigo who told us VicRoads will no longer be funded crossings in Heathcote, as they are not used enough to warrant it.”

It costs $20,000 a year to fund each crossing with half the funds coming from the municipality and half from VicRoads.

“Holy Rosary Primary School is currently working with a representative from council who is putting a business case together to try and secure ongoing funding,” said Ms Holmes.

“Council has agreed to continue funding three days a week until the end of the year.”

The crossings will be supervised Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

“Earlier this year a Safe Routes to School program was initiated by council and we asked for an additional crossing to be supervised at the intersection of Mitchell and Ebden Streets,” said Ms Holmes.

“I guess it is unlikely that crossing will receive funding for supervision if they are taking it away from High Street.

“We hope we can encourage the CoGB and VicRoads to find the funding in their budgets to keep our students safe and are grateful for the help from CoGB so far.”

Grade 6 student Jason said he is concerned for himself and younger students at the school.

“I ride my bike to school every day,” he said. “When the crossing is not supervised, I sometimes wait for two or three minutes before cars and trucks will stop.

“They just keep coming and ignore the flags.”

Crossing supervisor Sue Pace believes the crossing should be manned every day.

“It’s a major problem,” she said. “You have to be there for the kids. Drivers often don’t realise there’s a crossing there, especially when they are travelling too fast.”

Holy Rosary Primary School principal Paul Dullard agreed.

“At a time when we are promoting the Safe Routes to School project and encouraging kids to be more active, this is a setback,” he said.

“We’ve had a great response from the community for our bike ed and safety programs and were hoping more children would be riding, walking and scooting to school in the future.

“I believe the decision will have a negative impact. We need the crossings. It doesn’t matter if it’s one child or 100, they need to be safe.”