Thursday, 2 May 2019

Grahamvale and Kialla West primary schools pedestrian crossings

Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (17:52): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Minister for Road Safety, and it is regarding an answer I received from her this week in relation to safety measures at school crossings outside the Kialla West and Grahamvale primary schools. The action that I seek from the minister is for the minister to, as a matter of urgency, instruct VicRoads to act on implementing additional safety measures at school crossings outside the Kialla West and Grahamvale primary schools that will warn motorists of their impending approach to the schools and prevent further accidents, like the dreadful accident that occurred outside the Kialla West Primary School in September 2018, whilst we wait for long-term permanent solutions to be implemented.

Members of this house will know that I have spoken many times of the dangerous arterial roads on which the Grahamvale and Kialla West primary schools are located. I have spoken of the horrific crash in September 2018 at the school crossing outside Kialla West Primary School involving a young mother and her three children. The effects of this collision are still being felt by this local family. I have relayed the dangers that parents face each day travelling on Doyles Road when taking their children to Grahamvale Primary School and told of the near collisions outside the school between vehicles and large trucks on the Shepparton alternate route. I have made personal representations to the minister on these issues and have shown her video footage of some of the near misses outside the Grahamvale Primary School. I would like to thank the minister for her prompt responses to my contributions on the matter of improved safety at both Grahamvale and Kialla West primary schools, and I acknowledge her concerns about the current situation at each school.

In her response regarding Grahamvale Primary School the minister spoke of long-term plans to relocate the school entrance on a new road away from Doyles Road. This planned new road is part of a long-term planning strategy by the Greater Shepparton City Council and may not be built for many years. Similarly the minister has noted that investigations into the viability of a pedestrian overpass or underpass at Kialla West are being conducted by Regional Roads Victoria, again a longer term solution.

Considering the collision at Kialla West occurred nearly eight months ago, further immediate steps are required to improve safety for motorists and students. An interim solution is needed immediately to improve safety at both of these crossings while we wait for longer term upgrades. The solution for these two crossings may be as simple as some signage painted on the road, a set of rumble strips just prior to the reduction in speed sign that would alert approaching vehicles of upcoming changes in traffic conditions or the gateway treatment recently installed on the Murray Valley Highway to alert motorists to the change of speed through Strathmerton.

The action that I seek of the minister as a matter of urgency is that the minister instruct VicRoads to act on implementing additional safety measures at school crossings outside the Kialla West and Grahamvale primary schools that will warn motorists of their impending approach to each school and prevent further accidents, like the dreadful accident that occurred outside Kialla West Primary School in September 2018, whilst we wait for the longer term, permanent solutions to be implemented.