From the 2021 school year, the children's road safety program currently delivered at the Casey Safety Village will become an outreach program going directly into local schools.
Following a service review of the program, Council resolved at the meeting on 3 December 2019 to close the Casey Safety Village, which has operated from its location in the Casey Complex since 2006.
The program will continue from the current location for the next 12 months as it transitions to a new delivery model which will service Casey's 79 schools with approximately 5,000 prep students.
The new program will be tailored to each school and include:
- production of a local Walk to School/Active Travel map and information
- Prep class Walk and Talk sessions on being a safe pedestrian around schools
- Prep/parent education sessions with the school crossing supervisor and Lottie (the school crossing Mascot)
- review of parking signage and school crossings.
City of Casey Mayor, Cr Susan Serey said the Casey Safety Village currently contains the Casey Road Safety Education Centre (CRSEC) and the CFA Learning Centre, which have delivered combined road and fire safety educational programs to the community, primarily kindergartens and schools.
"While the program attracts around 10,000 children each year, around 60 per cent of users are from outside the City of Casey. As the facility receives no other government funding, the cost of the service is being born by Casey ratepayers," Cr Serey said.
In order to remain financially viable into the future, Cr Serey said significant expansion of the facility would need to occur. However, its location in the Casey Sports Complex, which is also the site for the proposed East Cranbourne railway station, means this will not be possible.
"The decision has therefore been taken to close the facility and transition to a school-based model that will be delivered directly to local schools.
"Council remains committed to improving road safety for children, and resources will be redirected to developing the program during 2020 for commencement in first term 2021. We are in the process of contact all our local schools to inform them of this change and to inform them of the new opportunities that will be available for their students."
The CFA was engaged in the service review process and Council will work with them to determine their future plans for the relocatable buildings they currently have at the site.
