THE redevelopment of a school crossing near Mentone Primary School has some residents concerned.
The crossing on Warrigal Road by Childers Street will move around 10 metres down the road, closer to the early learning centre. Kingston Council sent a letter to residents in March informing them that the crossing would move to “improve visibility of the crossing for all road users.”
Kingston Council CEO Peter Bean says the change was made after some people were nearly hurt. “Kingston has been working with the Department of Transport and Planning on pedestrian safety upgrades to Warrigal Road near Childers Street following several worrying near misses involving school children at the existing crossing and significant safety concerns raised by the community,” he said. “This critical project will provide safer driving conditions by ensuring the crossing is located far enough from the Nepean Highway and Childers Street, improve pedestrian visibility, and reduce the pedestrian crossing distance through safety improvements, including kerb changes.”
John Hadden lives by the school crossing. He says he was not kept informed of the change, and was left blindsided.
“I don’t see that there’s a benefit, it’s moving 18 or 20 feet,” he said. “Where I’m concerned we were not interacted with. We just got a letter which said council has already consulted all people concerned with the matter.
“They’re stonewalling us out and not giving us a chance to respond, (…) In the years we have been here we have not seen any stuff happen at this crossing.”
Bean said other options were evaluated. “Alternative options were considered, including locating the crossing further south, however, this would impact any future upgrades at the Queen Street and Mitchell Street intersection and leave pedestrians at risk if they choose to cross near Childers Street and head northwards. It would also result in additional parking impacts,” the council CEO said.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone – 26th July 2023