A petition for a pedestrian crossing outside a Landsdale early learning centre looks set to be knocked back by the City of Wanneroo despite concerns about young children crossing Kingsway to reach a nearby park.
The petition led by Landsdale School of Early Learning requesting a designated crossing for children, families and other pedestrians was signed by 89 people.
The centre said there was no designated crossing near its entrance on Kingsway, creating safety risks for pedestrians, including “children as young as nine months being transported in prams”.
About 7200 vehicles travel pass the daycare each weekday.
The centre regularly takes children to Brockwell Park across the road and staff say crossing Kingsway can be challenging.
“Having proudly adopted Brockwell Park, we see it as an extension of our learning environment and a valuable space for children to connect with nature, explore their surroundings and develop a sense of belonging within their community,” a spokesperson for the centre said.
“Having a safer crossing would allow us to embrace these opportunities with greater confidence, without the added concern of unpredictable driver behaviour.
“A designated pedestrian crossing would not only benefit our centre but provide a safer way for everyone in the community to cross.”
After accepting the petition earlier this year, a City of Wanneroo report is recommending against installing a crossing.
City officers said the location did not meet Main Roads WA guidelines for a pedestrian crossing, with a video survey recording only four people crossing the road.
“Works in this location would require widening the road carriageway to maintain sufficient lane width for buses, which may need the relocation of underground services and will therefore require detailed design and investigations,” city officers said.
“The estimated cost for this work could be up to $200,000, depending on the extent of service relocation.
“Given the low number of pedestrians observed in the video survey and the absence of other businesses or pedestrian attractors in the area, the installation of a staged crossing is not recommended.”
They also determined that a standalone speed limit reduction was unlikely to be effective in slowing traffic without other measures.
However, city officers are asking the council to support the construction of a $30,000 50-metre footpath on the south side of Kingsway near the facility, which could be installed in late 2027 or early 2028.
A future traffic management scheme for a section of Kingsway is also planned, but not expected to be completed until 2030.
The centre’s spokesperson welcomed the proposed footpath and said they believed “road safety should be proactive rather than reactive”.
They said they would welcome even a simple sign alerting drivers that young children regularly cross the road.
“We would love to see the assessment consider not just how many people currently cross Kingsway, but who is crossing, the risks involved and how a safer crossing could benefit the community into the future,” they said.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for pedestrian numbers to increase or, worse, for a serious incident to occur before considering improvements that could help keep our children and community safe.
“We aren’t expecting an expensive crossing, just a practical and affordable solution that helps keep our children, educators and wider community safe.
“While a designated pedestrian crossing would be amazing, we are absolutely open to alternative options that provide a safer way for everyone to cross Kingsway.”
The Wanneroo council is expected to vote on the city’s recommendation on October 27.