State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the Minister for Roads to explain why children from Wallsend South Public School have been left to cross the very busy Grandview Road and McCaffrey Drive without a school crossing safety supervisor.
Ms Hornery has been contacted by school parents and the P&C who were concerned after the crossings were left unattended this week.
McCaffrey Drive carries more than 20,000 vehicle movements a day and Grandview Road carries more than 3,000. The school crossing safety supervisor is vital to keeping the children safe.
The school safety crossing supervisor program provides a paid morning and afternoon position for roads that meet the criteria. The program is managed by Transport for NSW.
Ms Hornery spoke with Department officials yesterday but no response was provided.
“I am concerned for the safety of the children attending Wallsend South Public School, who have been left crossing two very busy roads without supervision,” said Ms Hornery.
“McCaffrey Drive, in particular, is very dangerous and yesterday there were reports of a near miss involving young students.
“Transport for NSW are meant to administer the service and provide relief crossing supervisors if someone is sick or unwell, but nothing has been communicated with parents or the school to advise why they have been without anyone staffing these sites for the last week.
“If parents were informed then they may be able to make other arrangements to ensure their children get to school safely.
“It simply isn’t good enough that one department doesn’t talk to the other. Parents should be told via the school app and social media.
“If Transport for NSW continues to leave these crossings unsupervised, it will only be a matter of time before a severe accident happens.
“In 2019, the Government announced that they were hiring 300 new school crossing safety supervisors, yet we have one of the busiest roads in Newcastle being left unsupervised.
“I will be following this up with the Minister and asking why this is happening and what is being done to make sure roads like McCaffrey Drive and Grandview Road are always supervised,” Ms Hornery said.