A council's split decision has left a school crossing defunded.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
A heated debate over student safety versus financial responsibility ended in a split decision at a recent council meeting, as Campaspe Shire councillors voted to defund a school crossing in Echuca.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
From June 30, St Joseph’s College will no longer receive council funding to supervise its Stratton Rd school crossing at the Kildare campus.
A council report revealed the crossing was installed in 2023 in a non-compliant manner and without proper approval from the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.
Council spent $2330 later that year to fix the compliance issues, but St Joseph's still couldn't access state funding because the crossing didn't meet subsidy requirements.
This made it the only school crossing in the entire shire that council has fully funded for three years running.
Additionally, St Joseph’s also sought a crossing supervisor be stationed at the public Mt Terrick Rd crossing, but was denied as the crossing was too far from the school to warrant state subsidy.
Council officers recommended telling St Joseph’s that without state subsidy eligibility, council could no longer fund the service and would end supervision in June.
The Mt Terrick and Stratton Rds intersection at the Kildare campus of St Joseph’s College.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
At the Tuesday, March 17 meeting, Cr Tony Marwood proposed ending the funding, with Cr Paul Jarman supporting the motion.
Cr Marwood said the road didn’t see enough traffic to warrant funding for a school crossing, noting it was on a dirt road with limited housing along it.
“I drive past it every day... I don’t know how many times (the crossing guard) has to put up a sign to stop a car,” he said.
He said the “real issue” was with the Mt Terrick Rd crossing, but it didn’t qualify as a school crossing.
The only other speaker for the motion was Cr Jess Mitchell, who spoke against removing the funding.
She spoke to her experience of being hit by a car as an adult and the safety measures that needed to be in place to protect children.
“I consider myself fortunate that my story did not have a worse outcome, but it is a constant reminder of how vulnerable pedestrians can be,” Cr Mitchell said.
“Car versus pedestrian is never a fair match.”
Cr Mitchell said school crossings were an example where value for ratepayer money was delivered, and it wasn’t something she could support removing.
Cr Marwood acknowledged Cr Mitchell's concerns but argued that as a private school, St Joseph's should be able to contribute to funding the crossing supervisor.
The motion narrowly passed by just one vote, with a 5-4 result.
Crs Marwood, Jarman, Rob Amos, Zoe Cook and Daniel Mackrell voted to approve the motion.
Crs Mitchell, Luke Sharrock, Adrian Weston and John Zobec voted against the motion.
