We, the parents and families of children attending Ballarat Grammar’s Centre for Early Education (CEEd), are calling for urgent action to improve road safety on Norman Street, Wendouree.

The section of Norman Street outside CEEd is currently subject to a 60 km/h speed limit, immediately adjacent to an area regularly used by very young children and families.

The CEEd community have raised concerns about the safety of this location for many years.

On 3 September, there was a serious incident involving several cars on Norman Street. While there is no suggestion the driver was speeding, the severity of the accident was a sobering reminder that a collision at 60 km/h can have extremely serious consequences, particularly in an area used by some of our most vulnerable members of the community – chiefly, young children and infants. 

We are calling for the City of Ballarat and the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to:

• Undertake a fresh safety and speed-zone assessment of Norman Street outside CEEd;
• Review whether the current 60 km/h speed limit is appropriate for this location;
• Review pedestrian crossing and access arrangements around CEEd and the nearby school facilities; and
• Prioritise and pursue funding for the proposed raised pedestrian crossing at the Norman Street/Forest Street intersection.

Young children should not have to rely on good fortune for their safety when entering and leaving their early learning centre. Their carers should be able to confidently be able to move their children in and out of a vehicle without worry and fear that a serious incident may occur.

We respectfully ask the City of Ballarat and DTP to listen to the concerns of CEEd families and work with CEEd and the broader local community to deliver urgent safety improvements.