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Funding ‘blackhole’ to fix school zones

A LACK of funding to maintain school zones that need urgent upgrades is putting young lives at risk, says Shadow Minister for Active Transport and State MP for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen.

She said Transport for NSW documents reveal the Transport Minister Andrew Constance was warned flashing lights and school zone markings were “constructed by Transport for NSW without commensurate capital or recurrent maintenance funding” and these school safety assets were reaching “end of life and are overdue for renewal”.
“The report found ongoing, dedicated funding of $13 million a year is urgently needed to keep children safe,” she said.
“This document clearly shows children are not safe around NSW schools. The Premier is encouraging students to walk or ride to school to beat congestion, yet she won’t stump up the cash to keep roads around schools safe.
“The Government must immediately fund critical upgrades before a child is seriously injured or killed.”
She visited Ashfield Public School with the Shadow Minister for Roads, John Graham, to highlight the risk.
Mr Graham said the Minister was warned of what is now a $11.5 billion roads funding black hole.
“Now we learn it is putting our kids at risk. Properly funding roads maintenance is essential to protect people travelling to and from school,” he said.
“It’s deeply concerning, especially for parents and carers, that the Minister was warned about these serious safety issues and has done nothing about it.”
Ms Haylen launched a state-wide report earlier this year on road safety around schools with crash statistics showing the most dangerous time to be on our roads is the afternoon around school pick up.