Page 291 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 2018
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We think that the agenda of investment in health infrastructure, health services and health research that this government has will be of significant interest to medical specialists around the country. Of course with the incredibly high levels of livability, the wonderful services we have here in the territory, we think we can bring all these together to attract even more specialists to Canberra.
Roads—school crossing supervisor program
MR STEEL: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. Can the Minister please update the Assembly on the rollout of the school crossing supervisor program that commenced at the beginning of this school year?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mr Steel very much for the question. I am delighted to update the Assembly about the school crossing supervisor program. It started on 5Â February, the beginning of the 2018 school year. Earlier this week I visited Lyneham Primary School to see the school crossing supervisor program in action. It was just fantastic to see the community using one of the busiest crossings in Canberra safely with the help of a friendly and skilled crossing supervisor.
I am particularly excited about this program, given strong linkages with two of my portfolios: health and wellbeing, and transport and city services. Introducing crossing supervisors in 20 schools will help to increase walking and cycling to and from school, assist in taking away some of the traffic pressure and car park congestion issues for schools at drop-off and pick-up times, and contribute to safer and healthier school communities. The supervisors help kids to get across the road safely by directing traffic with a stop sign and providing instructions. I experienced throughout last week and again this week at Lyneham primary the very friendly and engaging crossing supervisors.
Schools in the government, independent and Catholic sectors are part of this program, ensuring that kids right across the territory can benefit from safer crossings. The program is primarily aimed at primary school aged children, younger kids who are still developing the skills that they need to cross the road and who are starting to learn about independent travel. Importantly it also sets them up for a confident future in walking and cycling to school. We have allocated $3.3 million over the next four years to deliver the program. This includes $1 million over the next two years to make infrastructure improvements around schools and crossings, ensuring an even safer environment for our kids.
MR STEEL: Minister, what benefits will this program bring to local families, schoolchildren and the wider community?
MS FITZHARRIS: It will bring loads of benefits to families, schools and the wider school communities. Introducing school crossing supervisors will help increase safety for our kids walking and riding to school and helps reduce congestion for motorists by managing the flow of pedestrians and cars across the crossings and around schools.
While we do have an excellent safety record in school zones, there are always more opportunities to ensure that our kids remain safe. Through the Transport Canberra and
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