Lollipop hours cut at Holy Cross Primary School, Smithfield State High School

Students at a Cairns high school will be forced to cross a busy road on their own after the state government cut the shift of its crossing supervisor.

Students at a Cairns high school will be forced to cross a busy road on their own after the state government cut the shift of its crossing supervisor.

The lollipop person at Cheviot St, near Holy Cross Primary School and Smithfield State High School, will no longer be helping schoolchildren cross between 2.30pm-2.45pm.

Students at Smithfield finish at 2.30pm so will be crossing the road on their own.

Cairns division 9 councillor Brett Olds said the situation was “ludicrous”, and nothing should compromise children walking to and from school safely.

“If the cut to shifts is about money then there would be plenty of better ways to save this that didn’t put schoolchildren at risk,” Cr Olds said.

Cairns Division 9 councilor Brett Olds. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“There are so many cars and electric scooters on the road, why would we take away safety.”

The School Crossing Scheme supports and is funded to manage pedestrian access at high risk crossings close to schools for primary aged schoolchildren only.

Lollipop man Bill Dudley helps students from Holy Cross School and Smithfield State High School cross the road on Cheviot Street, Smithfield. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman said the department conducted regular assessments of school crossings to ensure the crossings are staffed during those peak periods.

“The timing of crossing may vary between schools to align with individual school’s start and finish times.

“Based on these assessments, school crossing start and finish times may be adjusted to ensure TMR are supervising the crossings at the optimal times.”

The morning shift for a lollipop crossing is 7.50am-8.35am while the afternoon shift is 2.30pm–3.15pm. It now begins at 2.45pm.

Cr Olds said the move did not make sense.

“High school kids are as young as 12 years old, I don’t think it’s fair to cut that shift at the busiest time of day,” he said.

“There wouldn’t be one person that thinks this is a good idea.”

The Cairns Post understands there was no consultation with the schools before the changes were made.

Smithfield State High School was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Lollipop hours cut at Holy Cross Primary School, Smithfield State High School