Echuca East Primary School will fight for crossing

Principal Lyn Strachan said the announcement came as a surprise.

“We were shocked when we were told we were losing the crossing, we just couldn't understand it,” she said.

She said the school felt as though it had been forgotten.

“We have more students (who attend school) at the east (of Echuca) compared to the west and now they won't have a safe way to get to school,” she said.

The Active Transport Echuca East Group said given the lack of footpaths and safe crossings in Echuca East, it was also dismayed at learning of the decision.

In 2019-20, the Department of Transport received applications for 15 school crossing supervisors from Campaspe Shire Council for funding under the School Crossing Supervisors Program and delivered around $90 000.

The department said in order for sites to qualify for the subsidy, there needed to be a certain number of children using the crossing and number of vehicles travelling through within a set timeframe.

According to a council count from July last year, the crossing assisted 20 primary school students an hour to cross safely, with 156 vehicles recorded passing per hour.

But the school and ATEEG does not believe these statistics to be true.

“We know of at least five children who regularly use the crossing who didn't use it in July last year due to being away on holidays,” ATEEG's Chelsea Dridan said.

“We can also name at least 45 children who utilise this crossing each and every day. This is a significant increase on the number identified in the report.

“Further, if this school crossing is removed there will be 40 families whose children who attend Echuca East Primary School will now no longer have a safe route to school.”

Ms Strachan said even if the group wanted to showcase the true numbers using the crossing it would be difficult.

Because of these findings, the council made the decision to close the crossing, one that was not taken lightly.

According to a report at a recent meeting, the council understood the risk this would pose to the students.

“This school is also serviced by another funded and supervised crossing on Sutton St; however, children approaching the school from the north and east are not able access the Sutton St crossing without first crossing a feeder road,” the report said.

“The ability to provide controlled crossing points for all children walking to school that must cross a road is not possible.”

The council also said because of the ever-changing situations at schools, there was potential for the crossing to be reinstalled.

The Department of Transport said the safety of students was important.

“Ensuring children are safe around schools is absolutely vital and the Department of Transport works closely with councils, schools and the Department of Education to provide a safe environment for Victorian children,” Northern Region director Brian Westley said.

The school council and community are set to meet to plan their next move.

“The parents and staff here are going to fight this,” Ms Strachan said.

If you would like to sign the petition to help keep the crossing, you can find it at chng.it/PVryZXzB