Mr PALLAS (Tarneit) —  I address  a matter  of road  safety near Suzanne Cory High  School  in my electorate, which was funded and substantially built by  the former Labor  government. More than  half  the current students  at Suzanne Cory travel to and  from school by public transport. There is  currently insufficient provision for pedestrians around the school.  This results in  significant risks to safety because of the crowding that occurs as the majority of students arrive at or leave the school by public transport.

A further 200 students will be  enrolled in 2013 and an  additional 200 in 2014. The  nature  of  the  school  and  its  pattern  of enrolments means that public transport use will grow appreciably over the next couple of years.

The school accepts its responsibility for creating safe patterns of behaviour by its students; however, safety would be significantly  improved for all users  of the surrounding roads and public transport facilities  if there were appropriate pedestrian facilities.

I have written to the Minister for Roads to request that first of all he conduct a  safety  audit of the traffic and pedestrian situation at  the  school.  After consultation with representatives of the school community, I have suggested that the following key  measures  could  be  beneficial  improvements:  extending the crossing  times  at  the pedestrian  lights  located near  the  Hoppers Crossing railway  station; improving  bus  and  safety  timetable connectivity;  engaging crossing assistants  at key locations; and installing a pedestrian crossing with flashing lights at the entry to the Werribee Mercy Hospital car park.

See Tim’s speech in Hansard here.