Premier and Cottesloe MLA Colin Barnett with Beehive students Eliza Prall and Jayda Jones at the new lights.
Camera IconPremier and Cottesloe MLA Colin Barnett with Beehive students Eliza Prall and Jayda Jones at the new lights. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Solar lights for crossing

Staff ReporterWestern Suburbs Weekly

Premier and Cottesloe MLA Colin Barnett said the government had pledged in last year’s budget to put flashing lights in all schools in the state.

‘This is this first set in the Cottesloe electorate, which we have installed for the very heavy traffic here,’ he said

Mr Barnett denied Beehive’s lights were a concession after a late-2013 spending review delayed by up to three years, until 2017-19, major parts of $40 million realignment of Curtin Avenue inland along the Fremantle railway line.

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‘No, it’s just that it’s the busiest road,’ he said.

A pedestrian walkway was unnecessary because the avenue would eventually be moved.

Speeding fines paid for the lights, which usually cost about $40,000.

Last year, the Government funded the warning systems for 65 other schools, including Subiaco Primary School, in 2013-14.

Another 171 schools, including Shenton College, already had the lights telling motorists to keep to 40km/h from 7.30am to 9am and 2.30pm to 4pm during school days.

Beehive acting principal Bronwyn Hope said the lights were a welcome improvement to student safety and the new technology allowed the bright LED bulbs to be illuminated by the sun and not use mains power.

The Government plans to have the flashing lights fitted at all of WA’s 1070 schools by 2018.