Crossings win for school danger zone
CHILDREN will be able to safely walk to and from Pimpama State Primary College by mid-August after a successful campaign by parents and the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Parents had been campaigning for a pedestrian crossing at the school for months and called on the Bulletin to help after 12-yearold Riley Haydon was run over by a car on June 26.
Two days later, as he recovered from an accident that left him with three broken bones in his leg, Riley said he “took one for the team” when Transport Minister Mark Bailey promised there would be ‘lollipop’ people around the school while the Gold Coast City council pledged to install pedestrian crossings.
Mr Bailey has kept his promise.
“The school is assisting in the recruitment of three school crossing supervisors by seeking expressions of interest,” he said yesterday.
“A number of applications have already been received. Applications for the positon close on Sunday.”
The supervisors will be paid a minimum of $29.61 an hour for up to 1.5 hours a day.
“There’s nothing more precious than the lives and safety of our children,” Mr Bailey said. “We are working closely with the school community and the council to expedite a dual supervised crossing on Dixon Dr and a single supervised crossing on Charles Ave.”
Mr Bailey said new crossing supervisors were expected to start work from midAugust in line with the council’s completion of works.
Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said the city was working closely with Transport and Main Roads to install the two supervised children’s crossings and new kerb ramps at the primary school.
“We’re also looking at road safety at the nearby high school and will install a pedestrian refuge facility there,” Cr Gates said.
“We are focused on improving local road safety and the safety of school communities is our top priority.”
Pimpama State Primary College principal Donna Gosling said the crossing and supervisors would go a long way to improve drop-off and pick-up times and safety.