Safety in school zones is a priority!

 Cessnock City Council has been acknowledged by the NSW Government’s Department of Education for making school zone safety improvements a high priority increasing the safety of local families across the Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA).  

Council has undertaken works at a number of schools to increase the safety of our most vulnerable road users making their way to and from school each day.   Crews have completed works in school zones at Holy Spirit Infants School Abermain, Pelaw Main Public School, Cessnock West Public School, Ellalong Public School, Paxton Public School, Bellbird Public School and Millfield Public School.  

Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent said staff have been working with local schools to achieve the best outcome for all road users.  

“We are really proud of the work we are doing at local schools and we remain committed to carrying out more upgrades across the LGA. As a former principal I understand how busy school zones become during the peak hours of drop-off and pick up. A number of traffic facilities we have put in have been to better manage traffic during this busy periods and improve pedestrian safety.”  

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from the school community including teachers and parents.  

Holy Spirit Infants School’s new ‘Kiss-and-Drop’ zone has been welcomed by parents who no longer have to get out of their car to ensure their child is safely dropped off or picked up from school. As a result traffic flows and access to parking in the school zone has improved.  

Since 2018, Council has invested approximately $860,000 improving road safety and amenity in and around our school zones.  

Council will continue the hard work and at the last Council meeting resolved to deliver upgrades at Kearsley Public School. During the upcoming Christmas school holiday break Council will upgrade the Tomalpin Street length of the Kearsley school zone. The works will include the installation of concrete pathways and parking upgrades.  

Council will also soon be launching an education campaign about parking, with a focus on school zones.

 10/29/2019