Push to extend safety zone

By Lia Bichel
PARENTS worried about their children’s safety have called on their local MP to advocate to extend the reduced speed limit around Timbarra.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan has started a petition calling on the City of Casey to request an extension of the 40 kilometre per hour school zone around Timbarra to include the bus stops on Parkhill Drive and median strip on Ernst Wanke Road.
He said the extension would restrict speeds at school drop off and pick up times but not affect the speed limit at other times.
Mr Donnellan said he hoped parents of students at Timbarra and the broader local community would support the petition.
“It makes no sense to have a school zone that doesn’t extend to the bus stops which many of the kids use every day,” Mr Donnellan said.
“With more students at the school, and the current 70km/h speed limit on Ernst Wanke Road, there is a great risk of kids getting injured by speeding motorists.”
Mr Donnellan said because it wasa local road, it was the City of Casey’s responsibility to request VicRoads to change the speed limit and he hoped both would work together to find a better outcome for the local community.
City of Casey manager transport Paul Hamilton said the existing school speed zone was installed by VicRoads and was consistent with the State Speed Zoning Guidelines for the current operation of the school.
Mr Hamilton said the Timbarra School was currently being redeveloped and expanded to become a prep to year nine college and once the new facilities open, there will be a need to review the operation of the school speed zone in Parkhill Drive.
“The council will be initiating the review and if any changes to the current speed zone are identified then these will be referred to VicRoads for approval,” Mr Hamilton said.