We call on The Minister for Roads and Road Safety, The Minister for Education and the City of Melbourne to urgently address road safety concerns at North Melbourne Primary School, Molesworth Campus and to take action immediately to:

1. Install clear signage indicating a school zone 

2. Install signs to warn drivers of the presence of a new school 

3. Install pedestrian crossings on Abbotsford St and Curzon/Harker St

4. Lower the speed limit on Curzon/Harker St from 60km/h to 40km/h during school drop off, pick up and school operating hours 

5. To install flashing Variable electronic signs to attract the attention of non-locals and commuters utilising these busy roads as thoroughfares 

With the recent opening of the new Molesworth St Junior Campus, North Melbourne Primary school is now split across two campuses, only 300m apart but divided by a heavy-trafficked 60km arterial road (Curzon St/Harker St, between Flemington Rd and Haines St).

(1) CURZON ST / HARKER ST 

The increased foot traffic between campuses is especially hectic in the mornings (drop off) and afternoons (pick up) when many families who have children at both campuses have to traverse the roadway at these peak traffic times, often with smaller children in strollers or on scooters/bikes. 

In addition, throughout the day there is increased foot traffic with teachers, staff, students and parents making their way between the two campuses for classes, activities and OSHC services.

The intersection at Curzon St/Harker St and Haines St is also geographically at the bottom of a hill, so traffic in both directions tends to speed up (not slow down) as well as coming around a bend in the southbound direction.

The new school campus has been opened without ANY changes to the speed or signage on this roadway. We need extra precautions and signage on the roads, especially as this has become an increasingly high-risk school zone.

In order to keep our children safe we are petitioning for the speed to be reduced to 40km per hour. If not 24/7, then at least Monday to Friday 7am - 7pm to support the connected campus activity, as has been put in place in other inner city roadways, with clear signage as per VicRoads (ref. link)

We request immediate action to implement safety measures and signage including:

1) Advance warning signs

2) Permanent school zone sign or Time-based school sign

Plus, most importantly
3) a flashing Variable electronic sign

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-rules/a-to-z-of-road-rules/school-speed-zones

(2) ABBOTSFORD ST

We understand that the City of Melbourne has approved a Zebra Pedestrian Crossing on Abbotsford St that will offer a safer passage to foot traffic across from Canning St to Molesworth St. While this was originally proposed to be implemented by January 2023, the work has yet to be undertaken. Now that the school has opened there are very dangerous crossing conditions (including bike path, concrete bollards, tram tracks) that make it very precarious to cross. 

Again, there has been NO additional school zone signage anywhere along Abbotsford Street that would indicate to motorists that conditions have changed and that there is a new School Zone. While the speed zone has recently been dropped to 40km on Abbotsford St, we are petitioning for immediate addition of signage to warn commuters they are entering a School Zone, and to anticipate changed conditions in the morning and afternoon school hours with increases in road, foot and bicycle traffic as well as public transport use.

We need immediate action to improve safety measures and active reminders for motorists traveling through our local streets to slow down and keep our children and school community safe.

As State Minister for Public Transport, Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said (Ballarat Times, 2021): “School-aged children are some of our most vulnerable road users,” and “We all have a responsibility to keep them safe when they’re travelling to and from school, that means everyone slowing down and paying attention around school zones."