Parents demand improvements to ‘dangerous’ intersections near Port Melbourne Secondary College

Parents at an inner city school are calling for improvements to a dangerous intersection after many near misses involving heavy vehicles.

Parents Niki Munoz, John Symons, Christopher Scanlon, Denise Linnane and Sally OShannessy with students Kayden Kortez, Maja Symons, Estelle Centurion and Aldi Williams from Port Melbourne Secondary College say the intersection of Williamstown Rd and Graham St in Port Melbourne needs to be improved. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Concerned parents are calling for urgent road safety improvements outside an inner-city school, saying it’s just a matter of time before a child is killed or seriously injured.

Families whose children attend Port Melbourne Secondary College, which opened at Fishermans Bend in 2022, say they have seen “several” near misses, including incidents where trucks have nearly mowed down students crossing the intersection of Williamstown Rd and Graham St.

The Department of Transport undertook a safety audit in 2021, which recommended significant safety modifications to the surrounding busy roads including the Graham St precinct.

This led to 40km/h school zone signs being installed, a new zebra crossing and smart pedestrian detectors at the traffic lights on Plummer St.

Parents say there have been several near-misses with trucks outside Port Melbourne Secondary College.

But parents say the majority of students use the dangerous intersection at Williamstown Rd and Graham St, where the near misses have occurred.

They are calling for urgent safety improvements including the installation of pedestrian barrier fencing, raised platforms on all approach roads and changes to lanes.

Families also say they have advocated to Port Phillip Council for months for a crossing supervisor outside the school.

Chris Scanlon, whose daughter attends the school, said that both the state government and the council were “dragging their feet”.

“Parents are extremely concerned as there have been several near-misses with trucks and cars at the dangerous intersection,” Mr Scanlon said.

“I raised traffic safety with the Port Phillip Mayor and a councillor two years ago at the school and they’ve done nothing.

“It’s only a matter of time before a child gets hit and this could lead to catastrophic consequences including them being killed.

“In a couple of years, there’ll be over 1000 students at this school. Is it going to take a serious road incident to occur before authorities do something?”

Parent Susan Harris said she had a near miss when a truck took a corner too closely in December last year.

“I was waiting to cross Graham St near the fire station when a truck took a tight turn on the corner,” Ms Harris said.

“I took a step back to avoid the truck. I tapped another pedestrian on the shoulder so she could get out of the way.

“It may have been a different outcome with noisy, distracted students.”

Parents Niki Munoz, Victoria Bardsen, John Symons, Christopher Scanlon, Denise Linnane and Sally OShannessy with students Elias Munoz, Maja Symons, Estelle Centurion and Violet Scanlon from Port Melbourne Secondary College at the intersection of Williamstown Road and Graham Street in Port Melbourne where there have been several close misses involving trucks and cars. Picture: Brendan Beckett. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Ms Harris said the Department needs to urgently act on road safety.

“State and local governments need to prioritise physical barriers to improve protection for pedestrians at this intersection.”

A Department of Transport spokesman said the Department had delivered safety upgrades around the school including 40km/h speed zones, warning signs, a new zebra crossing and smart pedestrian detectors at the traffic lights.

“We welcome feedback on road safety and will continue to work with the school and community on further safety improvements,” he said.

Port Phillip Council Acting Mayor Louise Crawford said the council understood parents’ concerns about road safety near the school.

“We have been advocating for some time for safety improvements at this location and welcomed the Victorian government’s funding commitment to address these issues,” Ms Crawford said.

“We’re in contact with the Department of Transport and Planning about their timeline to implement these improvements.

“As this intersection and roads are managed by the Department, they control any infrastructure changes.

Ms Crawford said the council wanted to fill the crossing supervisor position on Williamstown Rd.

“Funding is not the obstacle to filling this role.

“While secondary schools are not eligible for subsidies at signalised crossings under VicRoads guidelines, the Department has advised us they will agree to a one-year co-funding of a school crossing supervisor at this location.”