Surf Coast Shire Council will undertake road safety projects around school precincts to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow.
Council will trial new parking restrictions for terms three and four along School Road in Bellbrae from July 15 to address resident concerns about safety near the Bellbrae Primary School.
Restrictions include no parking on the ‘island’ on the western side and no parking on the east side of School Road, new two-minute drop-off and pick-up zones and marked on-street parking areas.
Councillor Heather Wellington said safety concerns were identified through meetings with residents, Victoria Police, and the school council and representatives.
“We have identified that simply maintaining the status quo is very risky and that there are easy, low-cost options we can try,” she said.
“I understand these changes may cause an inconvenience for some people, but we cannot compromise on the safety of school children.”
Road safety works near Torquay College and St Therese Primary School started on Monday, June 24, and are expected to be completed on July 12.
The works will include new raised pedestrian crossings, speed humps, crossing points and updated signage, as well as widening the Grossmans Road, Eton Road and Illawong Drive roundabout.
Mayor Liz Pattison said three weeks were needed to complete the works and apologised for the inconvenience caused by starting the project in the last week of the school term.
“These important upgrades will make it safer for children as well as adults to cross roads in this area at all times,” she said.
More information about road safety improvements throughout Torquay and near Bellbrae Primary School is available on Surf Coast Shire Council’s website.
