Council steps up patrols as students head back to school

A dozen schools in the region will be targeted in a blitz on dangerous parking next week.

Holland Park State School drop-off zone. Picture: Brian Bennion

A number of schools in the region are being targeted in a blitz on dangerous parking as students head back to school next week.

Anglican Church Grammar School, Belmont State School, Bulimba State School, Cavendish Road State High School, Coorparoo State School, Holland Park State School, Loreto College, Marshall Road State School, Somerville House, St Joachim’s Primary School, Tingalpa State School and Villanova College are among schools in the region targeted under the council’s traffic safety program.

They are among 60 schools citywide identified for additional safety patrols by Council during Term 1 to ensure parents are parking safely and legally.

Council will have 10 parking enforcements officers regularly visiting these school zones in high-visibility vehicles, to issue warnings and fines to drivers who are failing to park safely during school times.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said Council had so far worked with 140 Brisbane schools, helping them to identify and resolve their traffic management issues through a Traffic Management Plan, as well as developing innovative solutions to manage emerging issues.

“Since the program launched in 2009, close to 50 Brisbane schools have benefited from infrastructure improvements such as pedestrian crossings, footpaths and improved signage following the completion of their traffic plan,” Cr Quirk said.

“This financial year we are investing more than $1.3 million to help a further 13 schools carry out safety improvements, including pedestrian crossing facilities and drop-off zones to help our children travel safely to and from school.

“A further five schools will benefit from the installation of high-visibility school zones along busy multi-lane roads, as part of a $280,000 investment to improve motorist awareness around schools.”

Cr Quirk said Council was committed to road safety around our schools, to help students, parents and the local school community move safely around schools.

“With students heading back to school next week, it is a timely reminder to all parents to ensure they are parking safely and legally during pick-up and drop-off times,” he said.

“Since 2017, Council has more than doubled the number of enforcement officers patrolling during school times in response to the large number of requests that Council receives from schools and the community.”