City of Bayswater defers decision on WA’s first Transport Safety Learning School after residents raise concerns

CITY of Bayswater has put off approving the construction of WA’s first Transport Safety Learning School after residents raised traffic concerns.

The old Maylands Primary School site is set to host the $1.7 million Constable Care Child Safety Foundation school next to its existing headquarters in Maylands.

The school aims to teach 30,000 primary school-aged children a year about road safety, public transport and bicycle safety.

However, Maylands residents claim the additional traffic including school buses entering the site at Sixth Avenue will compound existing parking and safety issues on the street.

Sixth Ave Residents’ Action Group member Carla Jordan said the demographics of the street have changed since Maylands Primary School and its Sixth Avenue entry point were built some 100 years ago.

“Existing bus traffic is causing damage to the street, an increase in that (is concerning),” she said.

“The curb at the entrance to Sixth Avenue is just getting smashed and repaired all the time.”

Ms Jordan said three alternative bus drop-off spots had been identified by residents, including at Seventh Avenue, Guildford Road and Peninsula Road.

“With the motion to defer until there’s been further assessment, hopefully that will show that the residents’ concerns are valid and they can look at some alternative options for the bus drop,” she said.

“The easiest thing would be to look at Peninsula Rd because there is already a bus drop there that borders onto the Department of Education land.

“I think the whole amenity of the street would be greatly improved.”

Councillors did not debate the issue and moved to defer a decision following a traffic study in the area.

The old Maylands Primary School site is on State Register of Heritage Places and the City’s Heritage List.

In the deferred report, the City officer recommended the application be approved, subject to a host of conditions.