MAIDEN Gully Primary School students would need re-education about road safety if proposed plans for Marong Road are enacted.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Regional Roads Victoria has released concept plans for an upgrade of Marong Road as part of a $3.5 million planning process. No funding has been allocated for specific works.
The concept plans propose opening Carolyn Way onto Marong Road to form a through intersection with Maiden Gully Road. Currently Carolyn Way feeds onto a service road which meets Marong Road.
The Maiden Gully Primary School sits on Carolyn Way directly south of Marong Road.
Read more: Big changes proposed for Marong Road
Principal Craig Arrowsmith said he struggled to see the benefit of opening the intersection for the school.
Mr Arrowsmith said the school would lose about 23 angled car parks as the concept plans stood. He said the school's parking was used by about 50 staff and by parents for pick-ups and drop-offs.
The parking set up to made sure students could enter and exit school without walking behind cars or crossing the road, Mr Arrowsmith said.
He said students would need re-education about road-crossing if the change went through, as the road might be busier.
But Mr Arrowsmith said Regional Roads Victoria staff had offered to visit the school for further consultation.
"My thing is my school's getting bigger. Enrolments across the school are growing. I don't want to lose one park. So what's in the planning?," he said.
"I'm not anti progress. I'm just looking at what's the best [option], what's the safest access and exit for my school, for my 560 odd students."
Maiden Gully resident Therese McRae said the proposal to open Carolyn Way up to intersect with the Marong Road made sense, but a proposal to block Olympic Parade was shortsighted.
Feedback to Regional Roads Victoria suggested drivers find it difficult to turn right from Olympic Parade to Marong Road.
Ms McRae said closing the intersection would mean feeding increased traffic through residential areas.
Fellow Maiden Gully resident Caleb Van Cooten said he was excited about proposals to put in cycling paths and bike-lanes.
The plans propose shared bike and pedestrian paths along the road alongside on-road bike lanes.
Mr Van Cooten said as Maiden Gully became more of a destination Marong Road needed to be suited to that.
He said riding and walking infrastructure would make Maiden Gully less isolated for families.
"It's good to get out and not have to go out in the car everywhere," Mr Van Cooten said.
"Slowing down the traffic, and making it a bit more accessible for pedestrians and other road users is a great thing."
Regional Roads Victoria Regional Director (Northern) Brian Westley said the organisation was still seeking the communities thoughts on the concept plans.
"The feedback we receive as part of the community consultation will help inform the more detailed designs so we encourage everyone to share their thoughts online," Mr Westley said.
Find out more about plans for Marong Road at: bit.ly/33SZJ7j.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.