Sunshine Coast Bulletin - Australia

A history of council delays and in-action continues to risk the lives of students at Chancellor Park Primary School.

Chancellor Park Primary School, located on Scholars Drive, Sippy Downs, faces continued traffic congestion problems. At school drop off and pick up it is possible for over a 100 cars to be grid-locked in the cul-de-sac.

Division 6 candidate, councillor Christian Dickson, said there are definite traffic congestion problems and safety concerns on Scholars Drive.

“Without a doubt it’s 100 per cent visible and it’s probably one of the worst traffic bottlenecks you can actually see on the Coast,” he said.

“There’s definitely an issue there.”

Division 6 candidate Eve Landers said there is a traffic overcrowding problem on Scholars Drive, which she sees as having the potential to cause a tragic accident.

“I absolutely agree there’s a traffic problem on Scholars Dr,” she said.

“Somebody is going to die along there soon. Obviously I don’t want to see that happen, but a kid will one day dart out. It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Parents of school students are fully aware of the traffic congestion problem and the risks that face their children on a daily basis.  Concerned mother, Catheryne Cotter said the traffic was a “nightmare” everyday and expressed concern for pupil safety.

“Because of all the traffic on the road, every one concentrates on the traffic. When you have that many kids coming out all at once you only need one kid to run out across the road and that’s it,” she said.

The traffic congestion problems and associated dangers to pupils is something that the Maroochy Council has been aware of for over a year.

Cr Dickson explained that the solution to the problem is the extension of Scholars Dr through to Columbia Dr, Albany St and access to the Sunshine motorway. The project is apparently fully funded and approved, with construction to begin in June this year.

Cr Dickson said that Maroochydore Mayor, Joe Nattoli, had been pushing for the access road to be completed at the beginning of this school year, yet was met with refusal from council management.  

Cr Dickson said if council was fully committed to the project it should be completed within three months. This would mean that in a best case scenario the new extension wouldn’t be operational until August or September this year.

While this may be a viable solution there are still the inherent dangers that face school children on a daily basis until the project is completed. Immediate solutions to the problem could include the construction of a school car park out the front of vacant land near the school tennis court. Both candidates agreed they would give this proposal serious thought if Queensland Education would allocate the land. Another option could be to begin work on the access road immediately after the March 15 council elections, and cut out un-needed bureaucratic red tape, which could be endangering young lives.