Call to get moving on pedestrian crossing

SOME parents and locals in Jan Juc and Bellbrae are urging the various responsible authorities to work faster to create a safe pedestrian crossing on the Great Ocean Road.

A petition in the lower house of state Parliament has been started to draw attention to the need for a solution to cross the Great Ocean Road at its intersection with the western end of Strathmore Drive in Jan Juc and the service road that leads to the Surf Coast campus of Christian College Geelong.

“Crossing the Great Ocean Road in any capacity near Christian College Geelong Surf Coast campus for students of this school, the early learning centre and other nearby schools, even with parental supervision is not a safe enterprise,” the petition states.

“In addition, there is are no accessible pathways provide pedestrian or bike access to the east, west or south of this area. It is of considerable concern that an accident or fatality will occur.”

“Discussion between the Surf Coast Shire council and VicRoads has not progressed this matter.”

Jan Juc resident Myra White, who has a child enrolled at the college, said earlier work by parents from Bellbrae Primary School, including Shauna Burford, led to the installation of 40km signage near the intersection but it was not enough, especially given the collective enrolment of both schools was eventually expected to rise to more than 1,000.

She said there was no one authority responsible for designing and building a pedestrian crossing at the site, as it would likely have to be considered alongside the college’s former planning permit to create its main entrance through the Spring Creek valley, which has been stopped by the passage of the final Surf Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape policy.

The shire’s Regional Bike Route – Great Ocean Road project to create a path from Duffields Road to Bellbrae is also a factor, as is the control of VicRoads and the Department of Transport over the Great Ocean Road itself.

“Because it’s a collective responsibility, there’s just collective inertia about it,” Ms White said.

Ms Burford said children coming to and from Jan Juc had to cross not only the Great Ocean Road but also the service road.

“You’ve got all the Christian College families trying to get in and out, as well as buses – so you’ve got cars, buses, people walking and riding, all trying to enter and exit the school at that one point.”

The pettion asks the Legislative Assembly call on VicRoads, the Department of Transport and Planning and Surf Coast Shire Council to “develop immediate engineering options for safe passage”, provide a reasonable timeline, consult with local schools and the community on options, and “commence (and finalise) this project as a matter of urgency.”

Polwarth MP Richard Riordan is sponsoring the petition, which closes on October 26.

To read the petition or sign it, head to new.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/great-ocean-road-crossing-in-jan-juc