Libby Coker calls for road upgrades at Mount Duneed Regional Primary School

A local politician is worried about the potential of a fatal accident occurring nearby a primary school in Geelong’s south due to the poor condition of a road she wants council to upgrade as a matter of urgency.

Wade Veldhuis, pictured with son Bodhi, says Williams Rd in Mt Duneed is in desperate need of an upgrade. Picture: Brad Fleet.

A federal politician is warning that a fatal accident could occur nearby a local primary school due to the poor condition of the road.

Libby Coker addressed ongoing safety concerns around Mount Duneed Regional Primary School in her draft budget submission to Geelong council.

A small stretch of Williams Rd outside the school is bitumen, but the footpath quickly turns into narrow dirt and grass strip.

Concerned parents have unsuccessfully lobbied for improvements to the council-managed road in recent years.

Wade Veldhuis, whose son Bodhi is in grade one, said council irregularly scraped the road when it became particularly “bumpy”.

“Nothing has changed,” he said.

Ms Coker, re-elected for a third term in May, pointed to a petition lodged with council two years ago.

“Despite these ongoing community requests, the community’s advocacy has gone unheeded by the City of Greater Geelong, citing budget constraints and issues with native vegetation,” she said.

“Instead, the council has suggested the school build a new car park – a new car park does not make our roads safer.

“Members of the community are extremely concerned that a fatal accident may occur if action is not taken.”

Libby Coker has been Corangamite MP since 2019. Picture: Alison Wynd.

There was no funding in the 2025/26 draft budget and Ms Coker said if council cannot find the money, it should use the federal government’s Roads to Recovery program for the “much-needed project as soon as possible”.

Geelong council is set to receive $3.5m in 2025/26 as part of the program and almost $20m over the five-year period up to 2029.

Councillor Andrew Katos, whose Deakin ward takes in the school site, has been advocating for funding.

Council has previously said roads around the school were scheduled for redevelopment as part of infrastructure upgrades in the area, but no timeline has been given.

Local state Labor MPs Ella George and Alison Marchant also made draft budget submissions.

Ms Marchant, the first-term Bellarine MP, called for the reinstatement of $1m for implementation of the Portarlington Recreation Reserve masterplan.

“The removal of council funding, while projects in other parts of the municipality continue to be funded, sends a disheartening message to this community: that Portarlington is being forgotten,” she said.

“This is a serious setback for a community that simply wants fair treatment and a council that is prepared to stand with them, not walk away.”

Alison Marchant at state parliament.

Ms George, in a letter to Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj, said the northern suburbs continued to be neglected.

The Lara MP said investment in sporting infrastructure had failed to keep up with the growing population.

Lara MP Ella George. Picture: Alison Wynd.

She also relayed her “devastation” that $1.3m funding for drainage upgrades on Kyema Drive in Lara had been “ripped from this draft budget”.

“To be promised these upgrades, have drainage works funded in a previous budget, only for the funding to be taken away, is heartbreaking for these residents,” Ms George said.

Geelong council is on Tuesday night expected to endorse the final budget, which will record a small surplus following a projected deficit in the draft document.

Originally published as Libby Coker calls for road upgrades at Mount Duneed Regional Primary School