Two car crashes near Kidscape Leopold Early Learning Centre in 24 hours
Two car accidents have occurred just metres from a Leopold childcare centre, within just 24 hours. Now the centre is petitioning for safety barriers.
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Concerned parents and educators are petitioning for safety barriers outside a Leopold childcare centre after two car crashes occurred within 24 hours just metres from the site.
Managers of Kidscape Leopold Early Learning Centre, located on the intersection of Kensington Rd and Portarlington Hwy, launched the petition on Sunday following the crashes.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman confirmed a woman in her 30s was taken to Geelong hospital with upper body injured after a crash at the intersection about 4.20pm on Thursday.
On Friday, about 3.20pm, police and paramedics again attended another two-car crash at the same location, with no emergency treatment needed.
Kidscape Leopold director of management Tiffany Caddy said the staff had been trying to get approval to install barriers along that road since 2024, but had been met with “no” at every turn.
She said the rapid population growth in Leopold, including new estates and nearby lifestyle village, had increased traffic significantly.
She said more drivers were doing risky or dangerous u-turns right outside the centre.
“We are deeply concerned that if action isn’t taken now, we may eventually face a tragic but avoidable incident.
“The corner where our service sits is too close to recent crash zones for comfort.
“As educators and as a community, this weighs heavily on us.”
Ms Caddy said both the centre’s team and concerned families had contacted VicRoads multiple times.
She said in March, VicRoads found the pedestrian risk did not justify barriers.
Rebecca Gage, whose children attend the centre, said she worked in the transport industry and had been concerned about the potential for a crash for some time.
“Leopold is a hotspot for car accidents, the roads aren’t built for the growing population,” she said.
“I was concerned even before the petition.”
Ms Gage said there was nothing but a wide nature stripe and a wooden fence between the area where children played and the highway.
“No one means for accidents to happen, it’s worrisome,” she said.
“That side of the centre facing the highway is where the babies are, including my eight month old son.”
The intersection has a history of serious collisions, including a fatal motorcycle crash in 2022 and a serious accident in 2021.
City of Greater Geelong’s acting executive director of city infrastructure, Shaun Nuttall, said road safety barriers would have to be installed by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), which manages the intersection.
He said the childcare centre could install bollards within its own property.
By Monday afternoon the petition had recieved more than 480 signatures.
The DTP has been contacted for comment.
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Originally published as Two car crashes near Kidscape Leopold Early Learning Centre in 24 hours
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