Italian Australian Child Care Centre manager Assunta Martella with Zara Agapitos (centre) and, from left, Mary Kim with her son Daniel, Sofia Agapitos with her daughter Savanna and Brigitte Legeron with her son Alexandre.
Camera IconItalian Australian Child Care Centre manager Assunta Martella with Zara Agapitos (centre) and, from left, Mary Kim with her son Daniel, Sofia Agapitos with her daughter Savanna and Brigitte Legeron with her son Alexandre. Credit: Supplied/Marcus Whisson

Relief at council decision

Staff ReporterEastern Reporter

Councillors voted last week to consult with affected residents whether they would prefer full speed humps or cushioned humps on the thoroughfare near the Italian/Australian Child Care Centre, part of The Italo-Australian Welfare and Cultural Centre.

Centre manager Assunta Martella said speeding had been a major concern on the strip since 2006 and had increased significantly in the past year.

‘In 2006, one of the mums from the centre came in distraught. She was getting her baby out of the car while trying to hold a toddler and was nearly run over,’ she said.

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‘We contacted the council and some of our concerned parents did the same ” Alannah MacTiernan was not there at the time ” and we were told it would be prioritised according to what money they had. In the meantime, they put exercise equipment in nearby Charles Veryard Reserve, which would have cost a fortune.

‘If it’s a foreseeable accident, why wait until something happens? It’s terrific that finally we have a result.’

Mrs Martella said speed humps would provide a physical reminder to drivers to slow down.

James Hesford, whose daughter attends the centre, sent a letter to councillors in July expressing his concerns.

‘There was one car in particular that drove past doing at least 80/90 kilometres and I was holding my daughter on the side of the road,’ he said.

‘Council says vehicles aren’t travelling at excessive speed, which I find hard to believe having seen some of the vehicles travelling through there.’