COUNCIL MEETING 15 DECEMBER 2020 ATTACHMENT 1 TO ITEM 10.1 LETTER FROM THE BOB HAWKE COLLEGE BOARD Bob Hawke College Board PO Box 8150 SUBIACO WA 6008 Email: [email protected] By Email and Post Cr Keri Shannon Mayor of the Town of Cambridge PO Box 15 FLOREAT WA 6014 Email: [email protected] 4 November 2020 Dear Mayor Shannon Type A Children’s Crossing Application Approved on 7 July 2020 Railway Parade, cnr Northwood Street, West Leederville I write on behalf of the Bob Hawke College Board, parents and students of Bob Hawke College, Roberts Road, Subiaco, many of whom are Town of Cambridge rate payers. The Bob Hawke College Board was very pleased to learn that the application made on 6 March 2020 for a Type A Children’s Crossing on Railway Parade, cnr Northwood Street (refer Figure 1) was approved on 7 July 2020 by the Children’s Crossings and Road Safety Committee. Figure 1: Red marker indicating approved location for Type A Children’s Crossing At a meeting on site on 25 August, it was suggested by members of the Children’s Crossings and Road Safety Committee to the Principal of Bob Hawke College (Mr John Burke) that the expected timeframe for the construction of the Type A Crossing could be longer than 18 months. Given the urgency of the issue, this timeframe is too long and places the children 1 who currently and in the future will cross at this location at significant and unacceptable risk. We are urgently writing to obtain your support and commitment to a rapid design, cost estimate, MRWA lines and signs approval process and scheduling oF road works by the Town oF Cambridge prior to commencement oF the next school year (1 February 2021). Demonstrated need for a Type A Children’s Crossing Every morning since Bob Hawke College first opened to Year 7 students (aged 10-12 years old) on 3 February 2020, either the Principal or the Associate Principal has spent at least 1.5 hours each school morning (from 7.30am – 9am) and an hour each school afternoon (2.50pm -3.50 pm) assisting students to safely cross at Railway Parade. They have done this because it was recognised, prior to the College opening, that significant pedestrian and bike traffic by local students would occur at this location during the morning and afternoon rush hours. In addition, students from beyond biking and walking distance are taking buses and dismounting on Cambridge Street to then use the proposed crossing point. The crossing point currently includes a narrow median strip that is not safe for children walking in groups or riding bikes – children are frequently 'stranded' on the narrow median strip waiting for 'gaps in traffic'. Further, accessibility and the safety of this current crossing point for children with intellectual or cognitive disabilities who attend Bob Hawke College is a significant additional issue raised by some parents. Given the demands of their College roles, it is neither sustainable nor a long-term solution for the Principal or Associate Principal and other staff to continue to volunteer their time as traffic wardens each morning and afternoon at this crossing location. In addition, under the present arrangements and conditions, this means that they are themselves undertaking safety risk in performing this function. Figure 2: Residence locations of current 2020 BHC students likely to use active transport to get to College daily, using the proposed Railway Parade crossing. 2 Usage oF the crossing site is going to increase dramatically over the next few years Current student enrolments for 2020 are 286. Two-thirds of those students live in the Town of Cambridge. New (Year 7) student enrolments in 2021 will increase by at least 291 (current numbers as at 20 October 2020), but are likely to be as many as 320 students. For such an application to be approved, it is necessary to demonstrate a minimum of 20 children accessing the crossing point and 700 cars passing by in the relevant periods between 7.45am-9am in the morning and 2.30-4pm in the afternoon. The Town of Cambridge Surveys (held in February, March and May 2020) showed student usage of this crossing on Railway Parade exceeding this threshold (approximately 40-70 children cross Railway Parade on a daily basis in the morning and afternoon), and it is anticipated use will continue to increase by an extra 40-70 students year on year until 2025. Concern that delay in construction and staFFing oF the Children’s Crossing could result in the injury or death oF a child The Bob Hawke College Board members, along with the general parent body of the College, are extremely concerned about student safety while crossing the road at Railway Parade. The WA Police have attended the location on a number of occasions and were observed issuing infringements to drivers for exceeding the speed limit (which is 50km/hr) and it is a major thoroughfare for vehicles travelling to and from the city each day. In the afternoon, the sun significantly impacts on driver visibility while travelling west away from the city. The students themselves are young (aged 11-13 years at the moment) and will not necessarily anticipate the speed and movements of traffic, which is two-way and turning into and out from Northwood St. Alternative Pelican Crossing Application approved on Railway Parade (60m Further East) We have been advised that an alternative Pelican Crossing (which is to be put in place for use by vision impaired people exiting the train station who will be attending the Vision Australia Perth premises on Rosslyn Street) has also been approved but not yet scheduled for design and construction by the Town of Cambridge. Clearly two Crossings in such close proximity is impractical and unnecessary. The Bob Hawke College Board is prepared to support whichever Crossing is likely to be designed, budgeted and constructed first, so long as it is in place prior to the commencement of 2021 school year. Next steps to securing Town oF Cambridge support and action The Bob Hawke College Board and representatives of the P&C respectfully request an onsite meeting within the next 10 business days at the corner of Railway Parade and Northwood Street with you and the relevant Town executive and staff. We would appreciate an opportunity to observe and discuss the crossing location together, preferably between 8.15- 8.45am on a school morning. The Town of Cambridge is further requested to have the design and cost estimate of the works urgently prioritised, to ensure the Crossing is constructed and staffed prior to commencement of the next school year on 1 February 2021. 3 Town oF Cambridge Council Meetings Bob Hawke College Parent representatives will be attending the next Town of Cambridge Ordinary Council Meeting on 24 November 2020 as observers and will submit questions for a response during Public Question Time. We further request the issue of the Crossing be added to the Agenda for that meeting. Engaged and Concerned Parents and Ratepayer Support For Action There is increasing concern expressed by the College parents about the lack of action on this issue. The Bob Hawke College parents are a highly engaged parent group who will support you to action this crossing as a matter of priority. We respectfully put the Town of Cambridge on notice that we intend to take whatever appropriate urgent action is required to ensure the Crossing at Railway Parade and Northwood is constructed and staffed before the start of the 2021 school year. I can be contacted via phone (0419 919 221) or email ([email protected]), and I look forward to receiving your response to the request for an onsite meeting with you, and to our request for your support to progress this matter as quickly as possible. Yours sincerely Tahnee Davies Chair of Bob Hawke College Board Parent of a child who crosses at Railway Parade Town of Cambridge Ratepayer (West Leederville) cc Janelle Child, Advisor, Children’s Crossing Unit of WA Police Tony Lendrum, MRWA John Giorgi, CEO, Town of Cambridge Taras Ozarczuk, Department of Education John Burke, BHC Principal 4 COUNCIL MEETING 15 DECEMBER 2020 ATTACHMENT 2 TO ITEM 10.1 RAILWAY PARADE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING CONCEPT DESIGN COUNCIL MEETING 15 DECEMBER 2020 ATTACHMENT 3 TO ITEM 10.1 PROPOSED LOCATION OF A TYPE ‘A’ CHILDREN’S CROSSING NORTHWOOD STREET ROSSLYN STREET COUNCIL MEETING 15 DECEMBER 2020 ATTACHMENT 4 TO ITEM 10.1 TERMS OF REFERENCE Railway Parade and Northwood Street Precinct Reference Group Terms of Reference 1. Title: The name of the Working shall be the ' Railway Parade and Northwood Street Precinct Reference Group’ (the Reference Group). 2. Purpose: The Purpose of the Reference Group is to provide guidance, assistance and comments on matters relating to the Railway Parade and Northwood Street Precinct. 3. Relevant/Guiding Legislation: All relevant Federal and State Legislation, Town of Cambridge Local Laws and Policies, which are applicable to the role and/or functions of the Reference Group. 4. Membership: 4.1 The Reference Group will comprise of the appointments made by Council; and 4.2 Invitations will be extended to persons approved by the Council 4.3 Appointments to the Reference Group will be for the duration of the project. 4.4 Vacant Elected Member positions will be filled by Council Resolution. 4.5 The Chief Executive Officer and Directors will attend Reference Group Meetings. Other Town Officers, as nominated by the Chief Executive Officer, may also attend. 5. Meetings: 5.1 A quorum must be present before a meeting can proceed, with the quorum consisting of at least half of the total number of voting Members.