Zoe Moffatt
St Mary’s Primary School is one step closer to having its school grounds unified, following overwhelming support from local residents for the discontinuance of the road that divides the school.
For the past 35 years boom gates have been used to close Raglan Street, Lancefield, to vehicles during school hours.
In 2019, St Mary’s developed a master plan to address growing enrolments, and stated then that the proposed road discontinuance would create a safer and better connected school environment.
During community consultation in August, 86 submissions were received with approximately 91 per cent of the respondents voicing support.
Speaking at the council meeting on September 20, play therapist and counsellor Alana, who also has a child at the school, said current pickup and drop offs are an “anxiety ridden experience”.
“I think [the discontinuance] will enhance the safety and security of the students at St Mary’s and provide a greater sense of wellbeing for both students and staff alike,” she said.
“I think having it open the way that it is with the boom gates does an okay job at the moment but overall school drop off and pick up is quite an anxiety ridden experience.
“Not having that secure boundary to keep the kids in that space when you’ve got a lot of school traffic coming around is quite stressful.”
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, submitter Michael said St Mary’s remains resolute and well motivated in pursuing the discontinuous of the road.
“[This is] because it is the best outcome for the school and the community with negligible adverse impact to any individual or group,” he said.
“The school has to continue to strive to create an environment that is functional and safe for the current day and into the future.
“[Allowing] the school to secure the portion of Raglan Street during the day [will] assist greatly with meeting this need.”
Recommendations will be prepared for councillors to consider at the next meeting on October 25.
