Crossings

By Bridget Brady
A CIVIC leader has requested more traffic and pedestrian counts be carried out on eight school crossings in Casey before a decision is made to close them.
After a yearly review of Casey crossings, the council this month recommended eight be removed before the 2010 school year due to low pedestrian numbers.
But River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said he was not happy for the crossings to be closed after only one or two traffic counts.
“And I don’t think the schools will wear that,” he said.
Cr Smith said he was concerned the council had not gathered a good sample of readings and suggested any crossing have two morning or two afternoon counts before the council decided if they were to be closed.
Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford agreed with Cr Smith, and said comment should also be sought from affected school principals.
A further report will come back to council once the counts have been completed.
The eight crossings recommended for removal were: Power Road near Amalfi Drive in Endeavour Hills, Josephine Avenue near Victoria Street in Narre Warren, Paperbark Street near Tristania Street in Doveton, Columbia Road near Maramba Drive in Narre Warren, Somerville Road near Wren Street in Hampton Park, Princes Highway near Lloyd Avenue in Narre Warren, High Street near Stawell Street in Cranbourne and Parkhill Drive at Princes Highway in Berwick.
No permanent crossing supervisors would lose their jobs with the recommended closures, the council said.
The report also noted the need for an additional eight supervised school crossings in 2010, with many being the site of new schools. The new crossings that are proposed to be implemented during 2010 include Cranbourne South Primary School, Strathaird Primary School in Narre Warren South, Casey Central Secondary College in Cranbourne North, Lynbrook Catholic School, Lyndhurst Primary School and Hunt Club P-12 Cranbourne East.