Parents are calling for urgent safety improvements near two schools, with a petition warning action is needed before a near-miss becomes a tragedy.
The campaign calling for a safer crossing on Buderim Street at Currimundi has attracted more than 60 signatures.
Petition starter Sara Richardson said hundreds of children crossed the road each school day during drop-off and pick-up times at Currimundi State School and Currimundi Special School, when traffic was at its busiest.
“There is no supervised crossing, no flashing lights, no safe cycling route, and nowhere near enough parking, which pushes more cars, prams and kids onto the road at the busiest moments,” she said.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said council was aware of the petition, but it had not yet been formally submitted.
“Council is unable to comment on it at this stage,” they said.
“Should the petition be formally presented through the appropriate process, it will be considered in accordance with council’s governance and decision-making procedures.”
Ms Richardson said the current road conditions were creating challenges for families trying to safely access the schools each day.
“Parents and carers see it happen constantly: cars failing to slow down, drivers not giving way, kids darting between vehicles and cycling in traffic because there’s nowhere safe to stop, park or cross,” she said.
“It is only a matter of time before one of these near misses becomes a tragedy.”
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Ms Richardson said this was not a new concern.
“The school community has been raising these safety issues with Sunshine Coast Council for several years,” she said.
“We don’t accept that cost and complexity can keep outweighing the safety of our children – including the most vulnerable – and every year this drags on is another year our kids are put at risk.”
Ms Richardson said the community wanted safety concerns prioritised alongside future upgrades in the area.
“We’re calling on Sunshine Coast Council to install a supervised pedestrian crossing on Buderim Street, serving both schools or commit real funding to this project instead of continuing to defer it as ‘too expensive’ or too ‘complicated’,” she said.
“Council has the power to fix this before someone is hurt or worse killed.”
