Watch out, kids: Rolled ankles, scraped knees and fall risks ahead
The P&C president of Helensburgh Public School has highlighted the hazards on Junction Street – but despite years of complaints the missing footpath is still not finished
For three years, Kira Wright has been reporting an unsafe street to school to Wollongong City Council.
“I have personally lodged several Snap Send Solve requests for a footpath along the dangerous pedestrian section of Junction St between High St and Fletcher St,” said Kira, who is the P&C president at Helensburgh Public School.
“It is beyond my comprehension why there is still no footpath here, particularly given the exposed tree roots along the dirt path.
“Many families have raised concerns about rolled ankles and scraped knees during the daily walk to and from school. My elderly mother even fell when we walked this route.
“This is a direct route to the school and a serious safety concern. I cannot understand why Council has not addressed this long-standing issue, given it is the only section without a path on Junction St."
Tree roots make Junction St a treacherous route for prams, wheelchairs and children. Photo: Anthony Warry
'Serious safety concern'
Kira said that children walking to both the public school and nearby Holy Cross Primary are at risk.
“There are also many children who walk to and from school along Postman’s Track and The Crescent, neither of which has a footpath. With buses and cars travelling in both directions on the narrow roads with cars parked on both sides, blind corners and bends, this is a serious safety concern.
"I am surprised no child has been injured yet.”
Earlier this year, Neighbourhood Forum 1's volunteer convenor Warwick Erwin held up Junction Street as “the very best example” of unfinished problem projects in Helensburgh.
Warwick – an award-winning advocate for people with disabilities – told the Flame he’s been asking council to complete the footpath to the public school for six years. He described reasons for the delay, including tree roots and negotiations with the education department, as “hogwash”.
“It was witnessed that one lady with a disabled child in a wheelchair had to walk up a part of the road on the footpath, then onto the road, into the traffic, then back onto the footpath – and you're going: How's that safe? How's that a safe path to school?
“There's many streets that don't have a safe way for pedestrians.”
Parents and children need to watch their step on Junction St. Photos: Anthony Warry and Kira Wright
Councillor says it's a 'desired path'
At Wollongong City Council's August 24 meeting, Councillor Ryan Morris submitted a question with notice, asking staff for an update on footpath infrastructure and pedestrian safety in Helensburgh.
While Junction St was not mentioned as a priority in the response, the Liberal Ward 1 councillor told the Flame this missing footpath should be included in talks about council’s Infrastructure Delivery Program (IDP).
“The Junction St path is a desired path that will complete a vital link in Helensburgh. It is to be added to the IDP discussion when funding and budget allocation is set next year.”
The unpaved section up to Helensburgh Public School has been an issue for six years. Photos: Anthony Warry and Kira Wright
Junction St is not the only problematic path in town, nor in the wider Wollongong local government area, where there are nearly 500 footpaths on council's Infrastructure Request List.
Gran feared baby would fall out the pram
At August's WCC meeting, Helensburgh dad Angus Mullane delivered a petition signed by 515 people calling for action on the town’s “missing footpaths”, including along Parkes Street, the main road into town.
The petition started after Angus’s mum, Mandy Mullane, went for a walk with her grandson in his pram.
“She thought the baby was about to fall out on the nature strip and had to walk on the road," Angus said.
“One woman's lived here 71 years, and she pushes her grandson's wheelchair down Parkes Street on the road because she's got nowhere else to go."
In their discussion at August's meeting, councillors supported the idea of more footpaths, but ultimately their message was to try again later.
“The way the budgeting works is that we have a workshop in November, and councillors put their case for what they want to do,” Ward 1 Labor Councillor Richard Martin said. “Then we have another workshop in February, and then from that workshop, documents go out to the public.”
Wollongong City Council's next meeting is on Monday, 21 September and footpaths are not on the agenda.
The Illawarra Flame has contacted council for comment.
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Genevieve Swart
