As traffic congestion around Grahamvale Primary School increases, so do concerns for the safety of students and families.
The school is actively seeking to acquire adjoining land to improve safety measures during peak drop-off and pick-up times.
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell advocated for the school in parliament this week, urging the Minister for Education to open discussions with relevant stakeholders regarding the land acquisition.
“It is imperative that land required for the expansion of the school is acquired now to prevent any chance of a serious incident occurring,” she said.
The school currently has 106 parking spaces.
However, more than 160 cars are parked in and around the campus on a typical day, creating a potential hazard.
Long lines of parked cars stretch along the grassy verge of Grahamvale Rd, extending almost 200m north of the school.
This arterial road serves as part of the Shepparton Alternative Route for heavy vehicles, emphasising the need for increased safety measures.
The issue of land acquisition has been raised multiple times, with Ms Lovell first highlighting the necessity in 2008 and reiterating the concern in 2018.
A response from the previous Minister for Education acknowledged the situation, suggesting that expansion might help resolve safety issues related to increased student numbers and traffic.
In 2019, the area around Grahamvale Primary was designated for potential expansion under the Shepparton North East Precinct Structure Plan.
Despite this, the Department of Education informed the school in October 2022 that there were no immediate plans to proceed with the land acquisition.
As discussions continue, Ms Lovell urges immediate action to address the school’s safety concerns.