Bardia Public School’s student population is set to grow from around 300 students to a staggering 1,000 students over the next two to three years.
But the school, which is located in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing areas, is already experiencing major challenges.
With no crossing immediately in front of the school, students and parents are forced to walk considerable distance to the traffic lights at the intersection of the new MacDonald Road and Campbelltown Road.
There they have to cross busy MacDonald Road, which currently has a 70km/hour speed limit for motorists.
A sole kiss ‘n’ ride area on Arthur Allen Drive has led to unsafe driver behaviour – including U-turns in front of the school – placing students at significant risk.
The traffic confusion and chaos around the school has already resulted in a traffic collision.
Parents and staff at the school are concerned that unless urgent measures are taken there will be more mishaps.
Their local MP, State Member for Macquarie Fields Anoulack Chanthivong, says he has received a barrage of complaints over the safety concerns and is calling for urgent action.
He met with parents outside the school on Friday to see the situation first-hand, after writing to both the Minister for Education and the Minister for Transport and Roads calling for urgent action.
Mr Chanthivong said the State Government had failed to anticipate or address the traffic chaos since the redeveloped school opened earlier this year.
Part of the solution, a set of traffic lights, should be installed as a matter of priority at the intersection of Arthur Allen Drive and MacDonald Road to enable students to cross safely, he says.
Parents and school staff want a 40km/hour school zone on MacDonald Road.
Mr Chanthivong is also seeking answers on why the Education Department is waiting until 2020 to convert the former MacDonald Road into a long kiss ‘n’ ride and 40 vertical parking spaces.
“The situation at Bardia Public School is yet another example of the State Liberal Government’s poor planning in south west Sydney, where our needs are continually ignored,’’ Mr Chanthivong said.
“Under this Liberal Government, chaos and inaction reign,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“I truly hope it does not take a tragedy to prompt this government into action.”
