Government ask: DTP should urgently assess Gaffney Street between Bishop and Jersey streets and establish a funded pathway to deliver the safest protected crossing treatment before the kindergarten opens in 2028.
A present and observable risk
There is a gap of more than 700 metres between protected crossings on this section of Gaffney Street. A former crossing near the Coles entrance, close to Bishop Street, was removed and not replaced. Families must either make a substantial detour or attempt to cross a busy arterial road without protection.
Children as young as seven have frequently been observed weaving between vehicles and holding out a hand to signal drivers. Parents and grandparents have reported serious difficulty and danger when crossing. This is a foreseeable safety risk, not simply an inconvenience.
What the assessment must cover
- Direct observation during school travel and busy shopping periods.
- Current unsafe crossing behaviour and the effect of the former crossing's removal.
- Existing school, retail, park and neighbourhood movements.
- Projected demand from the new three- and four-year-old kindergarten.
- Consultation with CNPS, the kindergarten project, Coles, residents and Merri-bek City Council.
- The safest location and treatment, including consideration of a signalised pedestrian crossing.
Why this supports government goals
CNPS is a leading Open Streets school and the first in Australia to move from a pilot to an ongoing volunteer-run program. The program has increased walking and riding by 20%; 80% of families report that the street feels safer and 88% want it to operate more often. A protected crossing would support safe, healthy and sustainable travel rather than undermine it at the busiest arterial-road barrier.
The Department should identify the responsible business unit, provide a reference number, confirm the assessment criteria and timeframe, and establish a delivery pathway before 2028.