By CASEY NEILL
Footpath access to a Keysborough school is probably still more than two years away.
Mt Hira College principal Sareh Salarzadeh said the news was “surprising” and that a safe walkway for students to the Perry Road site was crucial.
Councillor Matthew Kirwan asked for an update on footpath plans at the Monday 27 June Greater Dandenong Council meeting.
“Parents of Mt Hira students are increasingly moving to the new estates of Keysborough to be within walking distance of Mt Hira but can’t safely reach it when they walk south of Greens Road,” he said.
City planning, design and amenity director Jody Bosman said funding for the project was coming through the Dandenong South Industrial Area Development Contributions Plan (DCP).
“The money is collected when development takes place. I guess it’s unknown as to when the various landowners will develop,” he said.
“It’s a 10-year DCP.
“That development could take place anywhere within that period.
“It’s a bit difficult to forecast whether it’s going to be in a year’s time or five years’ time.
“But if you’re looking for safe bet, you’d probably say that it’s not going to be within the next couple of years.”
Acting engineering services director Oliver Vido said it was likely that the footpath would be part of road improvement works.
“To try to put a footpath in at this point when we don’t have the detailed design information relating to the road is poor practice in that the footpath may have to be removed,” he said.
Ms Salarzadeh said a footpath would ease traffic congestion around the college.
“Parents have to drive their children,” she said.
“It’s not that far of a walk, really, but it’s not safe for them to be able to do so.
“It’s just going to get worse.
“We had 435 students in 2014. That’s up to 545 now.
“We have a long waiting list for next year.”
She said that if a concreted pathway wasn’t yet possible, perhaps the council could clear away grass to create a track, especially given that snakes were part of the school’s risk assessment.
“We always maintain our lawns,” she said.
The timeline for the footpath has increased since the Journal last reported on the issue in August 2014.
Then-principal Patricia Gay had heard from council planners that they couldn’t “construct a permanent footpath until the road has been re-built and this could take one to three years”.
“But I have asked about a more temporary one and they are going to cost it and let us know,” she said.
Mr Vido said at the time that he was working with the school towards a short-term solution.
