‘I took one for the team’
Schoolboy happy road where he was injured to finally get crossing
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Riley Haydon says he “took one for the team” on Tuesday when he was hit by a car, breaking three bones in his leg.
A crossing and road safety attendants were yesterday approved for the dangerous road outside Pimpama State Primary College where Riley was hit.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey, Government officials and the Gold Coast City Council have agreed to fund and provide the crossing and other safety measures.
“I took one for the team,” Riley said yesterday.
“I got hurt so the other kids are safe.”
The announcement came after a Bulletin front page report yesterday, which resulted from the paper’s investigation into road safety issues at the primary school and at the Pimpama State Secondary College 500 metres down the road.
There are no crossings near either school, which have a combined population of 2500 students.
Parents told the Bulletin this week’s accident was not the first near the schools. They said they had tried to get the state and local governments to put crossings in place.
But after yesterday’s front page report, Mr Bailey quickly organised a visit to the primary school where he announced funding, which will also cover crossing attendants.
The council will install the crossing from state funds.
“Last week we met to discuss these issues. Our risk assessment had shown this was a high priority site,” Mr Bailey said.
“So I’ve had a discussion with the Acting Mayor, Donna Gates, and said we will fund crossing supervisors here.
“The Acting Mayor was very positive about the council acting as soon as possible in the way they can look at roadways around the schools.’’
Councillor Gates said she had been waiting for State Government approval for the crossing and had already “actioned the work’’.
Cr Gates said installation was likely over the next two weeks during the school holidays.
“We are still waiting on formal advice but have begun the process to ensure the installation can happen over the holidays,” Cr Gates said.
She said traffic concerns near the high school would also be addressed by the council.
“The council is already working on kerbside, yellow lines and pedestrian islands, ” she said.
Riley’s mother Bex was angry that her son had to be hurt before action was taken.
“It is disgusting that my son had to be hit by a car before there was any action to protect children around the school,” she said. “If my son fell towards the car instead of away from it, he could have died.
“Fortunately that didn’t happen but I can’t get it out of my head that they knew about the safety issues around the road and didn’t do anything until now.”
Principal Donna Gosling, who had been part of a school safety committee, said the group would continue its role.
“The increasing pressures on the roads and footpaths in the area have always been a concern parents have raised, and it is something we have worked on collaboratively,” Ms Gosling said.
She had been “horrified but not surprised’’ by the accident this week.
“We were really saddened to hear of what’s happened to Riley. Now it is really fantastic to come to a resolution around safe passage,” she said.
Parents who had campaigned for a crossing said they were pleased to have finally been heard.
Doug Kirby, who said he had written to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, said he was happy at the result but disappointed it took so long.
“As a parent, we have been working closely on this so (with) the outcome here today, I am very pleased,’’ he said.
“I know it appears that there has been an accident and then they’ve acted, but whatever the reason is I am glad we are here.
“It has been a frustrating journey to watch kids go to school every day wondering if they are going to come home OK.
“Fingers crossed we might see something by the end of the school holidays.’’
Coomera LNP MP Michael Crandon said a school crossing was one of many changes needed to create a safer pickup zone in the busy area.
“I invited the minister out to see the issue for himself months ago, and nothing,” Mr Crandon said.
“The frustration is that we have been calling out to have this area looked at for five years. “There is no excuse. The planning work should be done before the schools are put in place.
“Every afternoon we have hundreds of parents trying to find a parking space.
“Kids on a narrow footpath beside a bus zone are a danger.
“They have had long enough to deal with the issue.”