Roads Minister Luke Donnellan drops speed limit on South Gippsland Highway outside school to 80km/h

ROADS Minister Luke Donnellan has asked VicRoads to temporarily lower the speed on the South Gippsland Highway to 80km/h near the scene of last month’s double fatality.

Hastings Liberal MP Neale Burgess says the Sth Gippsland Hwy near Lighthouse Christian College is a major concern among his constituents

ROADS minister Luke Donnellan has asked VicRoads to temporarily lower the speed on the South Gippsland Hwy to 80km/h near the scene of last month’s double fatality.

Mr Donnellan said the limit would be in place while VicRoads worked on permanent improvements.

“We will be seeking further community input on the most appropriate long term measure for a broader stretch along the South Gippsland Highway at this location,” he said.

Cranbourne Leader has been campaigning for a permanent speed reduction at the site following the horrific deaths of a mother and daughter leaving the school on August 9.

RACV Manager, Roads and Traffic Dave Jones said there was a strong case for a school zone outside of Lighthouse Christian College in Cranbourne. “Unrelated to the terrible fatal crash at this location, the absence of a time based 60km/h school speed zone for the school entrance and nearby bus stop is unusual,” he said.

“The school speed zone needs to be installed in accordance with VicRoads’ speed zoning guidelines.”

According to VicRoads guidelines, school speed zones apply on roads which have boundary gates used for student access. Leader has sent numerous requests to VicRoads asking how many other schools in Victoria have 100km/h roads and no school zone out the front, but has still not received a response, with the authority saying the information would have to be checked manually.

Hastings state Liberal MP Neale Burgess, whose electorate covers Devon Meadows, said many residents had approached him wanting the “unsafe” road to be fixed.

“There is no doubt the speed limits are erratic and too high and VicRoads must provide a solution to this as a matter of urgency,” he said.

Casey mayor Sam Aziz said the City of Casey wanted VicRoads to review the section of road between Cameron St and Clyde Five Ways Rd. “A site meeting of all concerned parties has been held to discuss potential road safety improvements, including a speed limit reduction, which is supported by council,” he said. “VicRoads has indicated it will now consider the issues raised with a view to progressing road safety improvements on the South Gippsland Highway in the coming weeks.”

VicRoads metro south east regional director Aidan McGann said, “reduced speed zones can be considered near any school, and VicRoads regularly reviews requests from councils and schools with safety in mind.”

“When determining school speed zones, we consider a range of factors, including traffic volumes and if the school has access that is set back from the roadway to safely accommodate drop off and pick up points.”