The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly that the active travel network is incomplete around Maribyrnong Primary School between Alberga Street (up to Maribyrnong Avenue) and Shannon Circuit in Kaleen. This intersection also forms part of the connection to the local Kaleen shops.
In 2023, there were 557 school students enrolled at Maribyrnong Primary School and
improving the safety and walkability to the school and local shopping centre is of crucial importance to them and local residents using the local shops.
There is major traffic congestion around the school drop off and pick up times at Maribyrnong Primary School. Issues include the lack of insufficient lanes for queueing traffic into schools and insufficient parking facilities. These issues have led to frustrated motorists choosing dangerous driving behaviour, which is resulting in a concerning number of near misses. We are concerned that, if these traffic safety issues are not addressed immediately, future incidents could result in serious injury or death.
Completing the active travel network around the school will encourage more parents/students and residents to pursue active travel to and from the school and local shops and reduce the build-up of traffic around the drop off and pick up times at Maribyrnong Primary School. Pedestrian and cyclist access in the precinct is dangerous due to the incomplete nature of paths around the school and needs to be improved dramatically, as this is a deterrent for citizens to utilise these active transport modes.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call upon the Government to: improve the active travel network around Maribyrnong Primary School by completing the construction of footpaths on Alberga Street (from Maribyrnong Avenue) and Shannon Circuit, Kaleen and the introduction of other traffic calming measures around the entrance of Maribyrnong Primary School such as a raised pedestrian crossing (wombat crossing) near the entrance of Maribyrnong Primary School and a dedicated school crossing supervisor at drop off and pick-up times.