Walk Safely to School Day

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon E. S. Bourke:

That this council—

1. Recognises and supports Walk Safely to School Day on 17 May;

2. Works to promote better attitudes to road safety, public transport and the environment; and

3. Calls on the state government to continue the work of the previous government in promoting road safety around our schools.

(Continued from 15 May 2019.)

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (22:05): I rise on behalf of the government to speak to this motion on Walk Safely to School Day. The value of walking and active travel as a contributor to community health, cohesion and wellbeing continues to be acknowledged by this government. Not only does walking, riding or scooting to school contribute to the personal health and learning capacity of students, but it also reduces traffic congestion, decreases the risk of injury and reduces noise and air pollution. The government's successful Way2Go program continues to expand its work with local government and primary schools to develop and sustain a culture of safe and active travel.

The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure School Community Partnerships team supports Way2Go partnerships with 43 local councils and 259 primary schools across the state. Video success stories can be viewed on the Way2Go website. The safety of families and children in each local school precinct is important to this government. Each Way2Go partnership is a collaboration between individual schools, the local council which carries responsibility for local roads and footpaths, and the broader Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

The Way2Go engagement process begins with surveys of the school community—parents, students and staff—site observations at peak times and mapping of students' residential locations. From the data and information gleaned, a school travel plan is developed with the aim of creating a culture of active travel. The range of initiatives include improvements to local infrastructure and signage, teaching road safety skills and knowledge and the Way2Go Bike Ed program where nine to 13 year olds can learn the road rules and practice safe cycling skills.

As the honourable member identified in her introduction to the motion, the challenges families face as they juggle the complexities of getting children safely and on time to their school or care destination creates significant stress. In 2017, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure's Way2Go team commissioned a Deakin University research project to identify the barriers that families face in supporting children to walk, scoot or ride to school, and the actions that would make it easier.

Using evidence from those recommendations, a dedicated families section of the Way2Go website was developed and launched by the Minister for Child Protection on 22 March 2019. It contains a range of resources to support families, including a series of short video clips where Jess Trengove, Olympic and Commonwealth Games marathon runner and new mother, and Ali Clarke, radio host and mum of three school-aged children, talk about safe and active travel habits for children. There are also planning tools for families to use, an active travel passport for children, and current information about school crossings and expectations of people driving in school precincts. I encourage all members to promote this resource in their communities.

This government continues to make significant investments in infrastructure to keep families and children safe near schools. Since taking office, we have invested more than $1.5 million in crossing upgrades and infrastructure improvements at Yankalilla Area School and Ridgehaven, Fairview Park, Kersbrook, Thorndon Park, Woodend, Hallett Cove, Sheidow Park, Glenelg and Highbury primary schools.

A recent commitment has also been made to upgrade the koala crossing on Blythewood Road to support children from Scotch College and Mitcham Primary School to cross safely on their journey to school. A recurrent $220,000 commitment within the Way2Go program continues to support site inspections and infrastructure improvements at up to 25 new school sites each year. The past two-year Way2Go infrastructure investment of $400,000 was matched by local councils resulting in value for money improvements at 30 primary schools across the state.

This government provided strong support for this year's national Walk Safely to School Day. It was promoted to all primary schools from 10 April via the Way2Go website. This timing provided an opportunity for families to explore the walk-to-school resources on the website, identify the safest route and practise their journey before the event. Promotion also occurred via both the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing's social media channels. The Minister for Education and the Minister for Child Protection attended the event launch at Walkerville Primary School on the morning of Friday 17 May.

Converting one walk to school associated with an event into a regular active travel habit relies on ongoing support. This government, through its Way2Go program, continues to partner with local councils and schools to support more families to actively travel to school more often. In 2018, Woodend Primary School initiated a parent-led Way2Go Walktober event, with 2,213 active travel trips recorded over a fortnight. This success was enthusiastically built on this October, with 4,029 active travel trips recorded.

Students used a Way2Go Walktober map, which identified common routes to school. Students and families used locations on the map as meeting points to walk, ride or scoot to school together. The school had a celebration assembly, during which certificates were presented to the house and class challenge winners by their local and hardworking MP, minister Speirs. Students won either extra sports time or iceblocks for their achievements.

A new shared pathway was funded by this government with in-kind support from the City of Marion. It was under construction during Way2Go Walktober, and many students were able to access completed sections for Walktober. With the final completion due by the end of November, more students and families will be able to safely and actively travel to and from school all year round. The government will continue to support the annual national Walk Safely to School Day. The successful Way2Go program and its Walktober model will expand its reach in 2020 to support more primary school students and families across the state to travel safely and actively in school precincts.

I have filed an amendment, although I now do not wish to progress it because I have come to a sensible agreement with the original mover of the motion. I think she intends to move basically the intent of the government's amendment to add a fourth dot point. Assuming that she is a woman true to her word, I will not move my amendment.

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (22:12): As is the case, we are true to our word, many of us. I move an amendment as follows:

Leave out 'and' at the end of paragraph 2 and insert 'and' at the end of paragraph 3.

Insert new paragraph 4, as follows:

4. Recognises the bipartisan approach to promoting road safety around our schools.

Hopefully, that addresses any concerns that any individuals may have. I will not speak any further on the matter; that should make everybody happy.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Are we finished? Maintain the discipline; we have a while to go. The Hon. Ms Bourke, could you please sum up the debate.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (22:13): I would like to thank the Hon. David Ridgway for his very detailed speech that he just provided to the chamber. I also thank him for coming to an agreement about road safety and protecting our children at a bipartisan level. At the end of the day, we all want to make sure that our children are safe, and we also would like them to be healthy. That is the whole purpose of Walk Safely to School Day.

I know that my child, my youngest of three, has just had her second transition to school day today. She was super eager to get to school, but it was nice to be able to walk to school and encourage her to be safe and active in the community. I would like to thank the Hon. David Ridgway for supporting the motion, and I hope the chamber will also support the motion put forward.

Amendment carried; motion as amended carried.