A NOTICE of motion was set to be heard at the August Mitchell Shire Council meeting, with Councillor Bob Humm moving a motion to write a letter to the State Government and opposition to look for safety improvements around the Arrowsmith Campus of the Beveridge Primary School.
Cr Humm made comment in moving the motion on the agenda that parents were confused by the drop-off zone at the campus, creating safety risks for children.
“The Beveridge Primary School drop-off zone on Arrowsmith Street, Beveridge is currently not fit for purpose. The drop-off area is a large gravel space with no clear road markings, signage, designated lanes, or traffic management. As a result, parents enter from multiple directions, cut across traffic to skip the queue, and frequently leave their vehicles parked in the drop-off area, causing significant congestion and confusion,” the Councillor Comment read.
“On a typical morning or afternoon there are three or four lanes of vehicles attempting to move through the area at once, yet there is no safe crossing point for children to navigate between these lanes of moving traffic.”
An officer comment said Mitchell Shire had approached the Education Department with a request for funding assistance but had been denied.
“Officers are aware of the significant growth of student numbers at the Beveridge Primary School Arrowsmith campus and the limited formalised and dedicated pick up and drop off infrastructure at the school. This puts significant pressure on the limited infrastructure and introduces safety concerns during pick up and drop off at the school,” the officer comment read.
“In recognition of this, we successfully sought grant funding to conduct a Vulnerable Road User Safety Study around the Arrowsmith campus of Beveridge Primary School. This work included extensive consultation with the school and school community through onsite drop-in sessions and even followed up with an education campaign at the school.
“The conclusion of this study put forward recommendations for significant infrastructure upgrades to address safety concerns given the ongoing and extensive growth in student numbers at the campus. This study was completed in August 2025 with a comprehensive report, including concept options and costings for these. Officers have identified one of the preferred options in the capital program with a total cost of $900,000 currently proposed to be funded by ‘unconfirmed grants’.
“In the interim officers continue to push our advocacy and grant consideration for the project and also consider minor signage improvements and education campaigns with the school. However, without the appropriate infrastructure or significant capital investment to support this exceptionally busy school there is limited intervention that can be considered.
“Officers have approached the Education Department with a request to assist with funding these improvements but this request has been declined.”
