MacGregor State School parents call for action on drop-and-go zone

PARENTS are fed up after a bureaucratic standoff has left a Brisbane school drop-and-go zone in question.

Waikay Lau, from the MacGregor State School P & C, is calling for a new drop-and-go zone at the school. Picture: RIC FREARSON

A BUREAUCRATIC standoff on drop-and-go zones is putting the lives of southside children at risk, including 1300 MacGregor State School students.

Brisbane City Council is refusing to accept responsibility to maintain zones at 46 schools, including MacGregor.

Until it does so, the State Government won’t split the cost of roadworks.

Waikay Lau, a former P & C president of MacGregor State School who is still on the school council, said parents had spent five years fighting for a proper drop-and-go zone.

Attempts to improve safety through education of parents, the Active School Travel program and police safety talks had failed.

He said the school principal had to personally supervise a makeshift drop-and-go zone every morning and afternoon.

“The P & C is prepared to put up $200,000 of their own money to maintain the zone and train lollipop people,’’ Mr Lau said.

“We could pay for the whole cost, about $1 million, but our core business is educating students, not roads.’’

Cr Steven Huang (MacGregor) said the site was entirely on state land, making it the state’s responsibility, but council was prepared to offer a 50:50 funding split.

State Labor MP for Sunnybank Peter Russo said Education Queensland prepared detailed plans in December 2014.

But council had not asked for the site to be transferred to it, so the Government could not proceed.

“Then (Brisbane City Council) sent out a message and said the whole structure had changed and council no longer wanted to do a feasibility study (first) and didn’t want the land,’’ Mr Russo said.

“The problem is not with us. It’s with council. We’re already committed to (the project).’’

REFUSING TO BACK DOWN

THE Southern Star has obtained a letter, written in May last year by Brisbane City Council Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner, advising that council wanted to hand back ownership and maintenance for zones connected to roads by a driveway.

The letter said zones at 46 Brisbane schools were affected.

The Local Government Association of Queensland, and Sunshine Coast Council backed council’s push.

But State Labor MP for Sunnybank Peter Russo said Councillor Steven Huang (MacGregor) assured parents, at a P & C meeting, and during the council election campaign, that he could secure funding in the next budget round for a feasibility study.

Cr Huang hit back, saying:

“We’ve done everything we can including talking to (Transport and Main Roads) to drop the existing bus stop so the (drop-off zone) could be extended’’.

“We take the safety of students seriously,’’ Cr Huang said.

“We are the only ones taking an active approach.’’

THE DISPUTE

■ Councils ask the State Government to transfer ownership of state land needed for drop-and-go zones to them. Councils conduct a feasibility study. If it is acceptable, the Government pays half of the construction costs, while councils do the maintenance.

■ Brisbane City Council wants the state to pay for feasibility studies and do maintenance for zones which require driveway access.