Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the north of the Cowan electorate there is the suburb of Banksia Grove. It is unique insofar as it is split in half by a major road, Joondalup Drive. On one side of the road is the state primary school; on the other side there is the Catholic primary school. Joondalup Drive is a major thoroughfare—trucks and a lot of other traffic all make it very difficult for children to cross. At times a crossing guard is there, but young people and children also cross the road at other times, so it is a very dangerous location. Before the last election the then opposition promised $1 million for a footbridge over the road. I do not believe that is enough money, and I do not believe that would be the right use of that money. However, the then opposition promised that. We want to see that money so that the local people can work with the council to determine whether traffic lights or some other traffic measure is the appropriate response. These things are expensive—$1 million is required, it has been slow in coming and it needs to come now to get the job done and to keep the children of Banksia Grove safe.