By Dion Teasdale
PARENTS from two Healesville primary schools are threatening to stage a protest during next week’s State Government ministerial visit to the Yarra Valley.
The parents will stage the protest if the State Government fails to commit to a funding agreement to fix dangerous traffic conditions between Healesville Primary School and St Brigids Parish School.
The protest would be staged outside Healesville’s Memorial Hall during a planned lunchtime reception for the Government’s 19 ministers and Premier Steve Bracks.
The Premier and ministers will be in Healesville on Monday, 24 July as part of the government’s Victorian Community Cabinet day during which ministers will consult with a range of community groups from across the shire.
Healesville Primary School council president Kersten Gentle said plans for the protest would be put in place depending on the outcome of a meeting between representatives from the schools and Education Services Minister Jacinta Allan on Monday morning. “If the Government doesn’t show maturity over this issue then the parents from both schools might have to hold a protest,” she said.
“There won’t be any outrageous behaviour but we’ll be looking at setting up displays to show the Government how dangerous the traffic situation is.”
Ms Gentle said parents were not giving the Government an ultimatum but were making the most of the opportunity to have their voices heard.
“We cannot afford to let this go past another election and with the Cabinet in town next week the time is right to bring this issue to a head,” she said.
“We are hoping the Government will join us in mature thinking and we are confident that we won’t have to resort to protesting.”
Ms Gentle said dangerous traffic conditions and a lack of pedestrian safety had been ongoing issues around the two primary schools for the past two decades.
“We’ve been fighting to get traffic conditions in the Healesville primary education precinct fixed for the past 20 years and the money to fix this problem needs to be found and spent,” she said.
“This is about ensuring the safety of our children and the Government needs to show us they are committed to fixing this.”
Ms Gentle said all parties were working towards a three way $385,000 funding deal between the Shire of Yarra Ranges, the Department of Education and Training (DEET) and St Brigids Parish School.
“So far the shire has committed $65,000 to the project, St Brigids has agreed to come up with $30,000 and we are hoping the Government will commit to providing at least $200,000,” she said.
“Minister Allan’s office has been very supportive so far and (Seymour MP) Ben Hardman has been instrumental in helping us work with the Minister.
“We believe if DEET can commit to $200,000 that we can get the bulk of the traffic issues fixed in this financial year and that would be a great outcome for the safety of our children.”
Ms Gentle said the funding would be used to widen High Street (the main thoroughfare between the two schools) to create additional indented parking and footpaths, and improve the safety of intersections around the schools.
A DEET spokeswoman said discussions regarding the amount of funding the department would contribute to the project were continuing.
“While I can’t confirm the exact amount the department will be contributing at this stage, I can confirm the department is very committed to investing its share in this project to improve traffic conditions between the two schools and the safety of students,” she said.
Seymour MP Ben Hardman said he had been lobbying Ms Allan and the DEET and was looking forward to representatives from the schools meeting with the minister next week.
“Minister Allan and the department knows this issue intimately.
“They are on side with it and are looking to give the maximum contribution they can,” he said.
Premier Bracks to visit, page 5.
