By DANIELLE GALVIN
Lakeside’s safe steps to school…
A NEW school crossing in Portobello Road in Pakenham is the step in the right direction for a safer community in Lakeside.
Cardinia Shire Council’s senior traffic engineer Nicholas Charrett said the council received a number of requests last year for a school crossing in front of Lakeside Lutheran College.
“In response to these requests, in late 2013 the council started investigating a safe site for a supervised crossing outside the school,” Mr Charrett said.
“It was then installed on the corner directly outside the school, where many people were already crossing.
“The crossing began operating at the beginning of this school year.”
Mr Charrett said parking had not been impacted, as it was already banned at this location.
“Fencing has been installed to direct pedestrians towards the crossing, encouraging them to use it,” he said.
“The supervisor will operate from the school side of the crossing, giving excellent visibility of approaching traffic and pedestrians.”
New college principal David Spike said the college was grateful for the council’s work to make Portobello Road safer for students.
“We are very grateful to the council – they have done a great job,” he said.
“Apart from making it much safer for students and parents, it looks a bit tidier.
“They have also put in a new bus parking area.”
Mr Spike said there was significant traffic in the area given the childcare centre opposite the college.
In the planning stages, Mr Charrett said the council consulted the school to ensure they were satisfied with its proposed location.
“Following its installation, college principal David Spike wrote a letter of appreciation to the council to say thank you for providing a ‘safer environment for the students and families,” he said.
“The nearby Goodstart Early Learning centre in Pakenham was also notified in advance of the crossing being installed.
“We routinely inspect school crossings immediately after they begin operating, and will inspect this crossing this week.”
Mr Spike said the council had identified the need for a safer crossing.
“It was very much appreciated,” he said.
“I wrote to them and said thank you; they have done this very efficiently.
“There can be a bit of traffic around the place.”
