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School’s Back

Community encouraged to make sure students can move to and from school safely.

By Portal Admin - 4th February 2020 - Back to News

Over 11,500 students from across Latrobe City return to school this week.

Local roads and footpaths will be a hive of activity as children make their way to school for the commencement of the school year.

Drivers are reminded that with school being back, that also means the return of school zone speed limits.

Latrobe City Council Mayor, Councillor Dan Clancey said that it is important for all drivers to take care and slow down around our regions schools, kindergartens and day care facilities.

"Council supports and encourages children getting to school and preschool actively. It’s great to see children ride, scoot or walk to school using our footpaths and local roads. It brings back fond memories of riding my BMX bike to school," Cr Clancey said.

"Getting actively to school supports a healthy lifestyle and importantly, as research has shown, it helps children learn better. It also supports children to develop their confidence and independence.

"It is the role of every single resident to make sure these students can move to and from school safely by doing the right thing behind the wheel, particularly when around our local schools."

Significant investment and construction development, both private and government, is occurring around the Grey Street Primary School precinct.

Council acknowledges that the limited car parking options available within the Grey Street Primary School precinct proved challenging for parents at school pick-up and drop-off.

"We have listened to and understand the concerns of Grey Street Primary School parents. We remain committed to engaging with the community, in particular the Grey Street Primary School community and school management, to balance the priorities of parents to ensure the safety of their children at school pickup and drop-off times," Cr Clancey said.

As Council builds our community with the best arts, cultural and sporting facilities in regional Victoria, there will be times that disruptions occur. We will of course work hard to ensure that we limit these as much as possible, but we ask that you be patient with us as we build a better regional city.

"I would encourage, where possible, for parents of Grey Street Primary School to park and walk at school pick-up and drop-off times. Why not put the children’s scooters and bikes in the back of the car and drive to one of the suggested carpark locations within 500 metres of the school and walk, scoot or ride to school?"

Park and walk locations extend beyond the Grey Street Primary School and are available at Anges Brereton Reserve, Traralgon Tennis Court Carpark and Harold Preston Reserve.

Following consultation with the Grey Street Primary School community, Council has created a gravel drop off area near the Bert Thompson Reserve and dog park to accommodate the needs of parents. These parks are sign posted for use during school pick-up and drop-off times of 8am-9am and 2pm -3pm, and have a time limit of 30 minutes.

As these car parks will result in an increase of traffic, both vehicle and pedestrian, a shared zone will apply from Franklin Street to Wright Street (behind the ASIC Building), Traralgon.

In the coming weeks signs will be installed to note the shared zone speed limit of 20 km/h, which has been designed to improve the safety of the pedestrians using the access way.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com