Car park risk to asthma sufferers

A HAMPTON Park preschool where asthma sufferers are inhaling dust from an unsealed car park has been added to Casey Council’s priority list.
Councillors recently voted to refer $80,000 for the construction of 18 asphalt parking spaces at the Valley Brook preschool to its five-year capital works program.
Preschool staff last year expressed health and safety concerns for the 100 families attending the centre, claiming that kids were choking on dirt and dust from the gravel carpark.
Preschool director Diana Salt said the surface had dangerous potholes in winter and suffocating dust in summer.
However, River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said he would fight to have the preschool car park added to council’s mid-year budget review in June.
“I will fight for this at budget time and I suspect we will have a good chance,” he said.
“It’s not on the list at the moment but I imagine it will be placed fairly high in next year’s budget.
“It’s a good step for the preschool just to get on the capital works program.
“Officers acknowledge that it is one of the few preschools managed by council without a sealed car park, so I would hope the issue is resolved in the short term.”