School ground drop-off to continue

Gosford Council has resolved to allow Busways bus service to continue using the grounds of The Coast Christian School as a bus stop.

The council declined a request from a group called "Bensville Residents for Rural Quality" that the bus service "be directed to use the existing bus stops on Empire Bay Dr and not turn into Bundaleer Cr".

The Bensville Residents for Rural Quality wrote to council on November 5 about bus operation concerns in relation to a development application from The Coast Christian School.

The letter referred to a meeting of the Regional Traffic Committee held on April 5 last year.

The council traffic committee met to discuss the application, which related to proposed extension to the school.

Item 9 of the letter stated "the committee identified clearly that the current practice of using the school carpark as a bus stop was highly dangerous".

"The committee stated that it was essential that buses have a separate parking area if the school grounds were to be used by them, and requests that, until outstanding traffic problems are resolved, Busways be directed to use the existing bus stops on Empire Bay Dr, and not turn into Bundaleer Cr, thus removing some of the danger from the current chaotic situation."

Council's traffic committee considered the request and "strongly objects" to the use by Busways of the existing bus stops in Empire Bay Dr for buses servicing the Coast Christian School.

A traffic committee report to council stated: "This proposal is exposing the school children to the high traffic volume and speeds associated with this section of Empire Bay Drive and would require numerous unsupervised crossings by young children.

"The Traffic Committee considers that the existing arrangement whereby buses pick up and drop students within the school grounds, whilst not ideal, is the most satisfactory arrangement until such time as the internal traffic issues associated with the proposed development are resolved."

Council agenda TR.03.055, May 6