Drive past Menzies Creek primary school during school hours and you’ll see hundreds of cars lining the side of the road.
With no official car park, the school, which has increased in student size, has a burgeoning parking problem.
On Wednesday 27 March, Tony Smith, and Yarra Ranges Council resoundingly responded to that problem announcing $80,000 in funding for an 18 bay car park located directly opposite the school.
Member for Casey, Tony Smith made the announcement which will be delivered by Council in the next 12 months.
“You’ve had a problem here, and it’s a growing problem because you are a successful school and attract more students and you have to be supported in that,” Mr Smith said.
“I have heard the concerns of the parents at Menzies Creek Primary School and in consultation with the Yarra Ranges Council, I am thrilled that we have successfully secured this funding which will allow for the development of an 18-bay carpark within the unused road reserve directly across from the school.”
“The school community considers that a new carpark on this road reserve could be used for staff vehicles; thereby freeing up the existing parking at the front of the school for the pick-up and drop-off of children.”
Over the years there has been a growing concern among the school community for the safety of their children due to the lack of a formal parking area.
This, coupled with high school traffic, as a result of increasing enrolments, and tourist traffic making its way to Puffing Billy Station has meant that the situation has become untenable.
School Council president, Rowan Coxhead, said the new car space would help to alleviate the problem.
“Over the last 6 years the school population has gone from about 140 kids to 250, that causes the parking to spread further and further up the hill and causes a lot of congestion and sometimes safety issues with people trying to navigate that, so it’s been quite a challenge for the school and school council,” he said.
“What this should do is get the vast majority of the teacher’s car off the road which frees up a lot more room for the parents.”
