Mosman councillors clash over school crossing plans
A new crossing will be built outside Mosman High School, following extensive debate among local councillors.
The new zebra crossing, proposed by the school, will be installed to the east of the campus on Gladstone Avenue, near the intersection of Keston Avenue.
While the crossing will be funded by the high school, the proposal was met with a mixed response from Mosman councillors at a recent meeting.
Councillors butted heads over the positioning and potential impacts of the crossing, with some expressing concern it could increase traffic and cause safety issues for buses using the road.
Councillor Libby Moline argued the installation of another crossing in the area would be ‘overkill’, maintaining it would not be needed if students were not preoccupied with their mobile phones.
“There are three crossings across Belmont Road. The school has been there forever… Why, all of a sudden, do we need a pedestrian crossing for them? They’re senior children,” she told the meeting.
“They walk around with their faces in their iPhones. Maybe they might have to look instead of just walking out in front of the cars on the pedestrian crossing, expecting everybody else to stop for them.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Simon Menzies pushed for a decision on the crossing to be delayed until further investigation had been conducted into installing it flush with Belmont Road.
Cr Menzies argued constructing the crossing at the northern end of Gladstone Avenue would see it more frequented by pedestrians, not just school students.
“It’s an emotive argument to raise the issue of, ‘Oh we’re doing this for the kids’,” he said.
“I will still argue that when spending public money – whether it’s the school’s or the Council’s – you should put the infrastructure in a position that it is going to do the most good for the most people.”
Gladstone Avenue is currently the main entry for the school as it undergoes a major $54 million upgrade of its campus.
Traffic modelling, commissioned by Mosman High, shows around 108 students will likely access the building via Gladstone Avenue in the mornings and afternoons.
After passing Council five votes to two, the school will now proceed with community consultation on the plans.