Act before tragedy: parents

By Bridget Cook
PARENTS at Woodbine Road Pre-School are urging the City of Casey to address their road safety concerns before a tragedy happens.
The local parents have voiced their concerns to the council about speeding vehicles, high traffic volumes and lack of warning signs on Woodbine Road, Cranbourne North.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, councillors agreed to investigate lowering the speed limit, erecting ‘children crossing’ signs and constructing a pedestrian crossing and additional car parks in the vicinity of the preschool.
Council also approved a planning permit for the extension of the medical centre on Woodbine Road – something residents fear will only make the situation worse – at the same meeting.
Jenny Witterick said action needed to be taken soon.
“The council need to act before something happens,” she said.
“A lot of the time councils and VicRoads act after a tragedy happens.
“The longer we don’t do anything, the more risk these children are at.”
Ms Witterick said there were several problems on Woodbine Road.
“The biggest issue is the traffic and the speed,” she said.
“We are finding cars aren’t slowing down.
“There are cars parked on both sides of the road and cars are racing through.
“Sometimes there are about 44 families coming and going from the kinder at one time.
“It’s a real safety issue.
“We urge the council to at least be looking at this as a real safety issue, particularly with the medical centre expansion, it’s only going to get worse.”
Ms Witterick said parents had a ‘wish list’ which included having the speed limit lowered, warning signs to let drivers know there are children crossing and a zebra crossing.
Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon, who moved the motion to have the safety issue investigated, said the traffic flow on this short stretch of road was a worry – especially given there is a pre-school located on it.
“Additionally, extensions to the medical centre there are planned, which is exciting, but it will be sure to generate more traffic,” she said.
“I feel very strongly about the need for safety around this location also.
“The traffic coming from Hoysted Avenue and Thompson Road is significant and there are also hold-ups in accessing and exiting the Thompson Parkway Shopping Centre.
“A further issue is with cars turning left from Thompson Road into Woodbine Road; there is insufficient distance from Thompson Road to the entrance of the Shopping Centre giving the impression cars will be turning left into the shopping centre and not continuing along Woodbine Road.
“I know of many accidents here and can confirm my mother’s car was a statistic of this and her car was written off.”
A report on the issues raised and possible solutions will come back to a council meeting in August.