Published Thursday, 21 June, 2007 at 10:17 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas
SPLIT-CAMPUS SCHOOL REVIEW RECOMMENDS UPGRADES
A further three Queensland schools with split campuses will get a dedicated pedestrian underpass or overpass following a state-wide review, Premier Peter Beattie said today.
Mr Beattie said the review found Mabel Park State School at Logan, St Mary's College at Warwick and Emmaus College at Rockhampton were all on busy major roads that warranted the construction of an underpass or overpass for students.
“Student safety is of great importance to the Government and the completion of this review means we can start working with schools, local communities and councils to further boost pedestrian safety.
“Main Roads will now consult with Mabel Park State Schools, St Mary's School and Emmaus College and their communities to find the best type of crossing to meet their needs.”
Mr Beattie said the review looked at 28 schools nominated by the Department of Education, Training and the Arts where students move between two campuses.
“Main Roads investigated the traffic volumes, crash history and form of crossing controls for each of the 28 schools and determined a dedicated student pedestrian link should be built for these three sites,” Mr Beattie said.
The dedicated crossing at the three schools will be in addition to an overpass already planned for Redcliffe State High School, following the tragic death of a student hit by a car on Oxley Avenue.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said safety work would also be undertaken on other schools examined in the review.
“While the review indicated traffic and pedestrian conditions meant these three schools should be provided with an overpass or underpass, safety at the other split-campus schools will also be boosted,” Mr Lucas said.
“Main Roads will work with local councils and the school community to look at different measures to improve safety, including better roadside fencing, bollards, dedicated drop-off bays, better signage, erecting flashing lights or other measures.”
“Main Roads will inspect those schools on state-controlled roads in this category, and work with local government over inspections on council-controlled roads.”
Mr Lucas said a number of the schools did not have classrooms on one side of the road, but rather sporting fields, which were far less regularly used.
“Additionally, some of the roads that divide the campuses carry low volumes of traffic.
“That’s why it’s important we work with the local school communities to get the type of improvements that best suit local circumstances.”
Mr Lucas said future upgrades to roads where split-campus schools existed could see further underpasses or overpasses built.
“And in future, when a public or private school is being planned or expanded to be a split-campus, it is likely to have a development condition placed on it by Queensland Transport that an overpass or underpass be constructed.”
Mr Lucas said based on the work being done at Redcliffe State High School each of the three new crossings was likely to cost $3 million to $5 million.
“After community consultation, the State Government has already decided to build an overpass at Redcliffe, which is on track to be completed before school commences in 2008.”
ENDS
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Media Inquiries:
Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister Lucas’ office – 3237 1942
Mr Beattie said the review found Mabel Park State School at Logan, St Mary's College at Warwick and Emmaus College at Rockhampton were all on busy major roads that warranted the construction of an underpass or overpass for students.
“Student safety is of great importance to the Government and the completion of this review means we can start working with schools, local communities and councils to further boost pedestrian safety.
“Main Roads will now consult with Mabel Park State Schools, St Mary's School and Emmaus College and their communities to find the best type of crossing to meet their needs.”
Mr Beattie said the review looked at 28 schools nominated by the Department of Education, Training and the Arts where students move between two campuses.
“Main Roads investigated the traffic volumes, crash history and form of crossing controls for each of the 28 schools and determined a dedicated student pedestrian link should be built for these three sites,” Mr Beattie said.
The dedicated crossing at the three schools will be in addition to an overpass already planned for Redcliffe State High School, following the tragic death of a student hit by a car on Oxley Avenue.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said safety work would also be undertaken on other schools examined in the review.
“While the review indicated traffic and pedestrian conditions meant these three schools should be provided with an overpass or underpass, safety at the other split-campus schools will also be boosted,” Mr Lucas said.
“Main Roads will work with local councils and the school community to look at different measures to improve safety, including better roadside fencing, bollards, dedicated drop-off bays, better signage, erecting flashing lights or other measures.”
“Main Roads will inspect those schools on state-controlled roads in this category, and work with local government over inspections on council-controlled roads.”
Mr Lucas said a number of the schools did not have classrooms on one side of the road, but rather sporting fields, which were far less regularly used.
“Additionally, some of the roads that divide the campuses carry low volumes of traffic.
“That’s why it’s important we work with the local school communities to get the type of improvements that best suit local circumstances.”
Mr Lucas said future upgrades to roads where split-campus schools existed could see further underpasses or overpasses built.
“And in future, when a public or private school is being planned or expanded to be a split-campus, it is likely to have a development condition placed on it by Queensland Transport that an overpass or underpass be constructed.”
Mr Lucas said based on the work being done at Redcliffe State High School each of the three new crossings was likely to cost $3 million to $5 million.
“After community consultation, the State Government has already decided to build an overpass at Redcliffe, which is on track to be completed before school commences in 2008.”
ENDS
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Media Inquiries:
Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister Lucas’ office – 3237 1942