MEMBER for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has called on the State Government to reverse a decision to defund school crossings at Heathcote.<\/p>\n
Money for supervisors at the crossings was withdrawn earlier this year, with the City of Greater Bendigo now paying for staffing at the three sites for three days a week until the end of the year.<\/p>\n
The officer of Premier and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, was contacted several times for comment by nothing was received by publication deadline.<\/p>\n
Ms Cleeland said that wasn\u2019t good enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is disappointing to hear of the lack of concern shown by this Labor Government when it comes to the safety of Heathcote\u2019s school children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Allan Labor Government\u2019s inability to manage money has resulted in cost-shifting to councils that, as a consequence, could seriously impact the safety of our children and families.<\/p>\n
\u201cI genuinely hope the Minister for Roads and Road Safety understands the potential heartbreaking consequences of a reckless decision like not funding these school crossings at a time where our roads are so unsafe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Cleeland said she believes that the matter could be resolved \u201cby a swipe of the pen by the Minister.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing powerful community advocacy, we have seen the State Government temporarily reinstate school supervisors at neighbouring councils,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have called on the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to do the same in Heathcote as a matter of urgency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Retired police officer Grey Loney who has lived in Heathcote for six years has joined calls to reevaluate the decision to defund the crossing supervisors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see the traffic every day. It\u2019s very busy with cars and trucks travelling through and holiday makers who are unfamiliar with the town,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids need somewhere safe to cross.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Loney said he believes that supervision is important not only for crossing the road but supervised crossings also provide a safe area for children.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids know that if something they are uncomfortable with happens on the way to school, they have a safe place to go and someone they know with a mobile phone,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should never underestimate the importance of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
An assessment of school crossings in Heathcote was undertaken on one day in June by the City of Greater Bendigo officers while both were supervised.<\/p>\n
Other information was gained by talking with the crossing supervisors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was only one child that used the crossing near the Holy Rosary Primary School and the other crossing had no children,\u201d said municipal spokesperson Ros Manning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe school crossing supervisors have also advised that no other children had used the crossing during the week and that usage was consistently low at all other times.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Holy Rosary School part of the municipally initiated Safe Routes to School program that introduces kids to walk and ride to school, principal Paul Dullard called for recount of the crossings\u2019 usage during the warmer months.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were hoping more children would participate in the future,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need our crossings to help with this.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s one child or 100, they need to be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MEMBER for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has called on the State Government to reverse a decision to defund school crossings at Heathcote. Money for supervisors at the crossings was withdrawn earlier this year, with the City of Greater Bendigo now paying for staffing at the three sites for three days a week until the end of […]<\/p>\n