Oatley West Public School community is hoping road and parking measures will be finally put into action, after voicing its concerns about safety.
Parents say an accident is waiting to happen because there is no crossing or set of lights at their end of the school.
There are more than 500 pupils at the primary school – a key factor that parents say is leading to excessive traffic congestion.
P&C president Peter York says there is a need for a crossing or pedestrian island from the school gate at Dame Mary Gilmore Road to Oatley Park.
He says this would enable pedestrians to cross safely from the school to the oval during sport activities and at drop-off and pick-up times.
“You have to walk on a carriageway where cars go, which it not a good situation at all,” he said.
“There have been near misses.”
He says the narrow main road also makes it difficult for cars to pass through.
Mr York said there had been years of correspondence with Hurstville Council, but no progress had been made.
“Parents have been running with this for a while,” he said.
“The council looked at things some time ago and a crossing and flashing lights were put in at the other (Oatley) end of the school, which was good because it slowed traffic.
“But this is the end we are talking about.
“At least drivers would be more aware if there was additional angled parking along Dame Mary Gilmore Road – which was approved a few years ago but then nothing happened.
“How long do we have to wait for something to be done, when a kid gets bowled over?”
A spokeswoman for Georges River Council said the council spent more than $220,000 on road initiatives to improve safety of children around Oatley West Public School in recent years.
These include the construction of a pedestrian path along Oatley Park Avenue frontage of the school – from Short Street to Dame Mary Gilmore Road, a 40 metre-long bus bay with a hardstand area in Oatley Park Avenue to provide safe access for children to buses, relocation of the raised pedestrian crossing on Oatley Park Avenue, installation of a new pedestrian crossing on Gungah Bay Road at Oatley Park Avenue, and a drop-off and pick-up zone adjacent to the school in Short Street.
There is also unrestricted parking on Short Street, Oatley Park Avenue and Dame Mary Gilmore Road where parents can park, pick-up or drop-off their children from the school.
The spokeswoman said the council held a meeting with Oatley MP Mark Coure and the P&C to address ongoing concerns.
“The meeting resolved that council develop engineering concept drawings to investigate additional parking options including further drop-off and pick-up zones,” she said.
“Council is also investigating the installation of a secure walkway from the school to Oatley Park.
“In the meantime, council encourages parents and carers to take responsibility and be aware around the school area to support the significant infrastructure already installed.”
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