Plan for school zone

Chandler Park Primary School assistant principal Naomi Reed at the school crossing on Chandler Road. 142951 Picture: ROB CAREW

By CASEY NEILL

A NEW school zone is on the cards for Keysborough.
Greater Dandenong Councillor Roz Blades said students from Maralinga Primary School – which closed earlier this year – were now crossing Chandler Road to reach Chandler Park Primary School.
“I understand that the 40 kilometre sign which related to the Maralinga Primary School has been removed,” she told the 27 July council meeting.
“But because the Chandler Park Primary School does not exactly take anyone directly to Chandler Road, there is a bit of difficulty in getting a 40-kilometre sign there.
“There is a large number of children that come from Chandler Park onto Chandler Road.
“It is a very busy and dangerous road.”
Council engineering services director Julie Reid said she would investigate the issue.
Chandler Park Primary School acting principal Naomi Reed said she would like to see a 40km school zone sign on Chandler Road.
“There was one further up at Maralinga where you crossed over to the school there,” she said.
“It’s a busy street, too, with the secondary college entrance there.
“The school council has discussed it on many occasions.
“We have a lot of congestion and it’s a little bit of a path through to the shopping centre.”
VicRoads Metro South East transport and planning director Con Stasinos said he appreciated the issue being brought to his attention.
“VicRoads will review the eligibility of a 40km/h school speed zone at the flagged school crossing on Chandler Road, near the intersection of Cochrane Avenue,” he said.
“We will work with Chandler Park Primary School and council to understand the pedestrian movements of students following the closure of Maralinga Primary School.”