Rachel Payne MP has asked the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to review the pedestrian crossing requirements on Homeleigh Rd. She took this step after parents at Keysborough Gardens Primary School raised urgent safety concerns about the daily school run.
Full Transcript
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:51): (2603) My constituency question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. I have heard from multiple constituents from Keysborough Gardens Primary School. For the last three years they have been pleading for another pedestrian crossing at their school on Homeleigh Road.
Keysborough Gardens Primary School sits on the corner of Chapel Road and Homeleigh Road. While there is a crossing guard on Chapel Road, most students access the school from Homeleigh Road. On that street, there is no dedicated crossing and multiple safety hazards.
Heavy traffic congestion makes school pick-ups and drop-offs unsafe. Parked cars create blind spots, and there are nearly daily instances of reckless driving and near misses. Greater Dandenong Council has told the school they do not meet requirements for another crossing. However, parents say their school run has become a game of sheer luck and additional safety measures are urgently needed before tragedy strikes. For many families, decisions about safety around Keysborough Gardens Primary School are now a daily worry.
The school has 500 students and is projected to grow to 650 within a few years. My question is: will you commit to a review of the crossing requirements on Homeleigh Road? In asking this, I want to ensure that we are doing all we can to protect the safety of Keysborough Gardens Primary School students.
Safety Before Tragedy
Rachel’s question gives voice to a school community that has spent three years asking for a safer way across Homeleigh Road. With enrolments set to grow from 500 to 650 students, the case for a review of the crossing requirements near Keysborough Gardens Primary School is clear.
