After months of back-and-forth between the Strathbogie Shire Council and the State Government, four out of the shire’s five school crossings are now supervised again as the State Government reluctantly resumed funding the crossing program in the region.
The Strathbogie Shire Council made the decision to exit the program in March, saying it was the Victorian Government’s responsibility to step up and deliver the program.
The crossings at St John’s Primary School in Euroa, Euroa Primary, Avenel Primary School, and St Joseph’s Catholic School in Nagambie are all now supervised as Term 3 gets underway – with just the Nagambie Primary School still waiting on a decision from the State Government.
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said it was pleasing to see this issue on its way to being resolved, although more work was still needed to ensure all school crossings in the shire would be funded.
“It is a relief for many members of the community, particularly the parents of local school children, that most of these crossings will go back to being supervised,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The safety of our children is the priority, and it was about time the Government realised this and stepped up to the plate.
“Now the next step is ensuring that Nagambie Primary School gets the same treatment, there is no reason why these students shouldn’t be kept safe too.
“Unfortunately, the commitment to fund the crossings does not have an extended timeline so we will all work hard to ensure this program can exist in the long term.”
Ms Cleeland had spoken with staff at the schools, students, parents, council, and concerned citizens, and had raised the issue in Parliament calling for the Government to keep the children safe.
“This was a matter of utmost importance to our local community,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The conversations I had with members of the community made it clear that this was something that needed to be fought for, and I’m glad to see something resembling a resolution now – at least in the short term.”
