By ANEEKA SIMONIS
CARDINIA Shire Council has reacted to out-dated safety conditions outside a Pakenham gym after two near traffic accidents involving children.
An Officer parent of three has said they saw two close calls in Cardinia YMCA’s “chaotic” car park over the past few weeks.
Last week, the father, who did not want to be identified, said a young person on a pushbike almost struck a child leaving the basketball stadiums due to a bank up of cars out the front of the entrance which blocked the rider’s visibility.
The man said he witnessed a similar incident weeks earlier caused by cars crammed at the gym entrance.
The traffic jam blocked a driver’s view of the road, resulting in another close call with a young child – this time with potentially more dangerous consequences.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen,” he said.
He said he often saw drivers letting children get out of their idling vehicles to make their own way through the car park to the gym, rather than the adult parking their car and accompanying the child into the recreational centre.
Until last week there was a clearance zone and pedestrian crossing outside the popular Pakenham gym.
The installations were removed by the council which said they did not comply with current standards and guidelines.
The council’s senior traffic engineer Nicholas Charrett said the signage was reviewed after a complaint was lodged.
He acknowledged the potential safety issues within the car park.
“Council has reviewed the signage needs in this location in consultation with staff from the YMCA, which manages the facility on council’s behalf,” he said.
“New signs that permit two-minute parking for dropping off and picking up passengers will be installed near the car parking bays at the entrance, making the location safer for both pedestrians and motorists.
“Visitors to Cardinia Life will be permitted to stop in these parking bays for a maximum of two minutes; they are designed as drop-off and pick up points for users of the facility.”
The signs are expected to be installed by mid-November.
