City of Joondalup councillors at this month’s meeting approved $50,000, subject to a 50 per cent contribution up to a maximum of $25,000 from Main Roads WA, as part of the mid-year budget review for the ‘wig wag’ signs to be installed to warn motorists of the pedestrian crossing ahead.
Mayor Troy Pickard said the crossing was a growing issue with significant traffic flow on Hepburn Avenue, which has a speed limit of 70km/h.
Cr John Chester said even though there was a warden at the crossing, motorists were not always aware of it and ‘quite often they come to a skidding halt’.
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READ NOW‘There’s no doubt that motorists need a prior warning before they get to the crossing otherwise we’re going to have an awful accident there,’ he said.
Kingsley MLA Andrea Mitchell said she had also been advocating for the lights to be installed, along with the Greenwood College school community.
‘Hepburn Avenue is a local government road but I believe that the State has a responsibility in this matter because the school boundaries dictate that these students need to cross Hepburn Avenue to get to their school and to get back home,’ she said in Parliament last September.
‘I am very pleased that the State Government has committed funding to the project as well as the ongoing maintenance.’
Councillors approved $1.1 million be transferred to the City’s strategic asset management reserve as part of the mid-year budget review.
Other projects to be funded include installation of drinking fountains with dog bowls in Robin Park in Sorrento, Moolanda Park in Kingsley and Juniper Park in Duncraig ($24,000), new wheeled fold-up tables for use in various facilities ($65,000) and new athletics long jump pits at McDonald Park in Padbury, Penistone Park in Greenwood and Robin Park.