Shadow Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli, Liberal Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres, Liberal Candidate for Riverstone Mulgoa Tanya Davies and Liberal Candidate for Londonderry Bart Bassett today announced a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government would fast-track the roll-out of school zone flashing lights in Western Sydney to increase safety for school children.
Mr Piccoli, Mr Ayres, Mrs Davies and Mr Bassett made the announcement outside Glenmore Park High School, which has been identified as a top priority for school zone flashing lights under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
In the Penrith region flashing light school zones will be fast-tracked at Glenmore Park High School, Glenmore Park Public School, Banks Public School, Cambridge Park Public School, Jamistown Public School, Samuel Terry Public School and Kingswood South Public School.
\”Under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government the installation of school zone flashing lights would be fast-tracked to see the total number of school zone flashing lights in NSW increase to an estimated 1,000 by 2015, with priority given to schools where children were at most risk,\” Mr Piccoli said.
\”We can’t leave motorists’ awareness of school speed zones and the safety of our children up to chance,\” he said.
\”Flashing lights are a great way to let drivers know they are entering a school zone, and then lower their speed to comply with the 40km/h limit.
\”Under Labor the roll-out of school zone flashing lights has been far too slow and expensive, and now we have a situation where less than 10 per cent of school zones have flashing lights.
\”The lack of flashing lights not only compromises the safety of children, but also poses a hazard for motorists with many being stung by fines as a result of being caught by speed cameras.
\”That is why the NSW Liberals & Nationals will fast-track the roll-out of school zone flashing lights, beginning with an audit of the existing program to ensure that value for money is achieved.
\”We will allocate $13 million to fast-track the rollout of school zone flashing lights to not only improve safety around schools, but also to give a fairer deal to motorists,\” Mr Piccoli said.
Mrs Davies said that after consulting with the community and taking up the fight on behalf of local residents she is pleased that schools in the Mulgoa electorate will be fast tracked under the NSW Liberals & Nationals plan.
\”As a mother I know how important it is to do all we can to keep children safe and this announcement will go a long way to improving road safety around our local schools,\” Mrs Davies said.
Mr Bassett said today’s announcement is a big win for the community and that in the Londonderry electorate Cambridge Park Public School, Samuel Terry Public School, Kurrajong Public School and Richmond Public School/St Monica’s Catholic School will all be part of our plan to fast track school zone flashing lights.
Mr Ayres said Labor had failed to deliver Western Sydney and the Penrith region its fair share of school zone flashing lights.
\”Only the NSW Liberals & Nationals are committed to fast-tracking the roll out of school zone flashing lights in Penrith and Western Sydney,\” Mr Ayres said.
