The bus bay at one of Sunshine Coast’s busiest schools, Maroochydore State High School, is set for a major redesign and upgrade thanks $1.865 million in funding from the state government’s School Transport Infrastructure Program.
State MP for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson welcomed the financial boost for the region’s main high school, saying the current design of the set-down area was a “nightmare” and the rebuild was “great news”.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australasia’s bus and coach industry
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly ABC magazine
“The current bus bays are dangerous as they require buses to reverse park, resulting in teachers needing to be traffic controllers to keep students safe,” she says. “That wasn’t fair to teachers nor students.”
“This upgrade will allow buses to parallel park and not reverse, which is much safer.”
“A considerable amount of design work has already been done, but I understand that the timing for construction will be within the next two financial years,” she says.
Five other state schools around the region are also set to benefit from the scheme: at Montville, Palmview, Golden Beach, Peregian Springs and Yandina.
Montville State School will see $210,000 go towards an upgrade of footpaths and the installation of new barrier kerb and a retaining structure.
Palmview State School will receive $448,000 for the installation of wombat crossings at the roundabout while Peregian Springs State School will see $216,000 go towards the installation of a raised zebra crossing and pedestrian fencing.
Forty-six Queensland projects will receive a combined $14.1 million funding under the School Transport Infrastructure Program.
Transport minister Bart Mellish says the safety of school children “is a priority”.
“They are one of our most vulnerable road users and we will continue to work hard to support long-term solutions to school road safety issues.”
Read more:
- BusTech enters voluntary administration
- Zero emission bus contracts handed out for Melbourne
- Video Review: Yutong C12 and C12E
- Video Review: Challenger Callibar
- BusTech finds buyer, acquisition approved