Surf Coast Shire Council is trialling new parking restrictions for term three and four along School Road, Bellbrae, in response to community and resident concerns about safety at school pick up and drop off.
These changes have come about through regular meetings with the community to explore further parking improvements.
The trial parking restrictions for term three and four include:
- No parking on the east side of School Road. A yellow line will be painted in the areas of no parking.
- No parking on the 'island' on the western side of School Road immediately down the hill from the school. No standing signs will be installed.
- New two minute drop off/pick up zone on the east side of School Road opposite Bellbrae Primary School.
- On street parking areas clearly marked along School Road and Cemetery Road.
Signage, line marking and other works will be completed during the July school holidays (1-12 July) to create the new parking restrictions. These changes will come into effect on Monday 15 July and will be reviewed at the end of the year.
"It's important that we trial these parking restrictions in terms three and four, in response to requests to improve safety in the area", said Cr Heather Wellington.
"Through our regular meetings with the school council, school representatives, residents and Victoria Police we have identified that simply maintaining the status quo is very risky and that there are easy, low-cost options we can try", she said.
"I understand these changes may cause an inconvenience for some people, but we cannot compromise on the safety of school children".
Council commissioned an independent safe system assessment of the Bellbrae Primary School precinct at the beginning of the year, with a number of recommendations to improve safety along School Road supported by the community when surveyed in March.
Funding has been secured for the recommendations from the safe system assessment and include the following permanent changes to be implemented over the January 2025 school holidays:
- Three raised platforms (flat top speed humps) along School Road to reduce the speed of through traffic and encourage more vehicles to remain on the Great Ocean Road and Anglesea Road, rather than cutting through School Road.
- Raised pedestrian crossing on School Road south of cemetery Road/School Road intersection. The crossing supervisor will remain in place during school drop off and pick up.
- Replacing existing school crossing with a raised pedestrian crossing. The crossing supervisor will remain in place during school drop off and pick up.
- Changing the angle of parking to 30 degrees opposite school and introduction of two-minute parking at school times to support greater turn over in these space during school time.
