Regional School Crossing Survey

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:32): My question is to the minister for road safety. Can the minister confirm that regional schools were audited during the 2023 school crossing survey, especially Moonta Area School, and with your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr ELLIS: I have received contact from the Moonta Area School Governing Council, particularly from Janelle Phillips, who are concerned that their school crossing is not all that visible and could do with further signage to improve the safety of it and make it a less attractive proposition for speeding cars.

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Special Minister of State) (14:33): I thank and acknowledge the member for Narungga for his question. He is a powerful advocate for his community and well informed about local matters and he has been in constant communication with me since I took on a range of portfolios and I always take the matters he raises with me very seriously, as I know that other ministers and members do.

The short and direct answer to his question is yes. I am advised that the department on 30 March 2023 requested the maintenance contractor to undertake a comprehensive review of site distances around traffic-control devices and intersections, including side roads. The request was also to review the asset data in respect of children's school-zone signage, as well as children's crossings, emu and koala signage for crossings of that character and type in relation to site distances. I understand that the department provided a summary of the audit results of school zones within the relevant zones not long afterwards.

I am advised that the signage associated with the Moonta Area School koala crossing was included as part of this review, as earlier indicated. The report advised that the signage associated with the koala crossing had been inspected and no signage defects were reported. The koala crossing was last inspected by the department's ITS unit in February 2024. Prior to this, it was inspected in July 2023.

As the member is aware, in March 2024 the district council of Copper Coast forwarded a request to the department from the Moonta Area School Governing Council seeking advice on observed speeding motorists through the koala crossing on Blanche Terrace, Spencer Highway. I thank the member for the question and I look forward to additional matters being raised by him—not just with respect to this concern but, as he is diligent and focused on all of the needs of his community, with respect to other portfolio matters that I am happy to engage with him on.