TMR warns of speeding crackdown as new school zone limits start on Monday

Motorists have been warned of hefty speeding fines in new school zones ahead of the inaugural opening of a bayside state school on Monday. WATCH the video for a sneak peek of the classrooms

Scenic Shores State School founding principal Sue Hendriks will greet parents and new students on Monday. Pictures: Scenic Shores SS

Bayside motorists travelling from Redlands into Brisbane or Logan have been warned of hefty speeding fines in new speed zones that come into play around a new school on Monday.

The speed limit on the major thoroughfare between Redland and Logan has been dropped by a massive 50km/h ahead of the opening of the new $75 million Scenic Shores State School.

Motorists were warned that new 60km/h and 70km/h speed zones have replaced the longstanding 90km/h limit on the main Redland Bay Rd, which now also includes a 40km/h school zone.

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Scenic Shores State School will be one of two new state schools to open this year.

However, rain hampered the opening of Ipswich’s Bellbird Park on Monday with the first cohort of students relocated to nearby Woogaroo Creek State School at Augustine Heights until the works are completed.

The 90km/h speed zone between Lagoon View Rd and Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd has also been reduced to 80km/h.

The new 70km/h zone on Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd and Serpentine Creek Rd, on either side of the school, is 300m in both directions.

Drivers busted exceeding the speed limit by more than 1km/h to 11km/h will cop a $309 fine and one demerit point.

Those who are clocked over the speed limit by more than 11km/h but not more than 20km/h will get an on-the-spot fine of $464 and three demerit points.

Those found to be driving at 60km/h up to 70k/h in a school zone will be fined $696 and four demerit points.

For speeds breaking the limit by more than 30km/h to 40km/h the fine is a massive $1161 and six demerit points.

That fine jackpots to $1780 and eight demerit points, plus a six-month licence suspension for speeds more than 40km/h over the limit.

Double demerit points also apply for two or more offences for speeding 20km/h or more over the speed limit in a 12-month period.

The Transport Department said the 40km/h school zone at Scenic Shores State School would be monitored on school days between 7am and 9am and again between 2pm and 4pm.

“The lower speed limits will provide a consistent and safer speed on the approaches to the new school,” TMR said.

Work at the school, on the corner of Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd and Scenic Rd at Redland Bay, is still being completed less than a day out from opening for the first cohort of 95 students.

The new speed limit signs were erected on Thursday alerting motorists to the new 40km/h school zone speed limit.

But Scenic Rd is still yet to be widened to two lanes with the driveway to one of the entrances still a muddy mess and yet to be paved.

Inside one of the new classrooms at Scenie Shores State School. Picture: Scenic Shores State School

Trucks and cranes were onsite this week at the site, next to a man-made dam, which was filled in but is still a pool of mud after the recent rain.

An elaborate pick-up and drop off zone has been built at the front of the school with two carparks on either side of the main gate.

A speed limit review was completed for Serpentine Creek Rd with a local speed management committee of members from local councils, TMR and the Queensland Police Service, endorsing the lower limits between Lagoon View Rd and Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd.

Parents have been told the school has internal drop off zones accessible via Scenic Rd but traffic management plans are in place while road works continue on Scenic Rd.

The red, yellow and blue school uniform for the new Scenic Shores State School. Picture: Contributed

Although the first cohort is small, the school was built to eventually cater for 1200 students a year in an effort to keep up with the state’s population boom which is expected to add another 2.2 million people to the state by 2046.

On Monday, Scenic Shores will open to all year levels and include 35 prep students, with 14 teachers and principal Sue Hendriks along with eight support staff.

Although all classrooms and buildings are ready, the playground and other outside areas are yet to be completed.

The new school is expected to provide enrolment relief for Redland Bay State School, Victoria Point State School and Mount Cotton State School.

The school’s state-of-the-art facilities include an administration building, prep and junior primary learning areas, a resource centre, a multipurpose hall, canteen, sports field, multipurpose court, bicycle parking and two car parks.