A RADICAL new school crossing prototype which is currently being trialed in the Northern Grampians Shire will not be adopted in Ballarat, according to City of Ballarat mayor Des Hudson.
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The six month trial which is being undertaken in conjunction with Vicroads has seen a major revamp of the five school crossings throughout the Northern Grampians Shire, with the goal of ultimately removing crossing supervisors.
The move came after the Northern Grampians Shire decided it would not fund crossing supervisors, saying it should be Vicroads, the state government of the Department of Education who foots the bill.
Northern Grampians mayor Murray Emerson said the decision was reached at a council meeting six months ago after estimates revealed the to council would balloon from $60,000 per annum to $120,000 over the 2015/16 financial year.
“We are very aware of the safety of our children and were not jeopardising it at all,” Cr Emerson said. “The trial put in place by Vicroads is to see if there’s a more economical way of doing things.”
The six month trial which will conclude at the end of June involves improved signage around the five school crossings in the shire as well as raised pavement markers and raised crossings in some circumstances.
The trial will play a critical part in influencing Vicroads’ state-wide review of the school crossing supervisors program, of which will influence Vicroads’ funding of supervisors going forward.
Vicroads currently funds part of the school crossings program, with local council’s chipping in the bulk of the funds.
Cr Hudson said while the council’s Road Safety Advisory Committee were looking for efficiencies ahead of the incoming rate-cap, school crossings remained a priority for the shire.
“The City of Ballarat would not want to be in a position where we compromise the safety of children going to and from schools.”
Council spend $420,000 per annum on 72 crossing supervisors who operate across the shire’s 62 school crossings. A further $240,000 funding is provided by Vicroads for the program.