Decision on ‘flashing lights’ plan deferred

Clr Sarkis Yedellian: “ ... if there is only one or two schools left, let’s do it.”

Clr Terry Perram preferred Council not to commit funds calling it a “backward step”.

After lengthy debate Ryde Council last week deferred a decision to support the flashing lights campaign of Macquarie Park and North Ryde Rotary clubs and Ryde MP Victor Dominello.

The flashing ‘check speed’ lights have been installed at a number of schools throughout the electorate over the past 12 months from fundraising by local Rotary clubs and Mr Dominello.

In a report, prepared for Council, it was advised not to support the signage advocating for more RTA approved lights. It also indicated that the lights Mr Dominello was campaigning to have erected were illegal and without RTA approval.

Mr Dominello’s office last week rejected this saying that after consultation with the RTA the signs, designed as they are, were legal.

The report included letters from 11 local schools asking Council to give support for the signs.

It had also been revealed that the report was five to six months old, which could mean the proposed Council’s contribution of $60,000 could now be less.

Acknowledging the report was outdated, Clr Sarkis Yedellian said: “I understand that most schools have the signs, if there is only one or two schools left, let’s do it,” he said.

He moved that the matter be deferred and that a new report with more exact figures, detailing the outstanding costs, be brought back to Council.

Clr Pickering said it was “absurd” that a report be so out of date.

Clr Perram said he preferred if Council did not commit funds to the venture calling it a “backward step”.

He questioned the report and said that after reading a newsletter from Mr Dominello that said all schools in his electorate had lights, he felt the job was done and the matter was finished.

“I’m happy to move a motion to congratulate the support from Victor Dominello, Mr Olsen (supplier of the flashing lights) and Rotarians,” Clr Perram said.

If Council wanted to do something to assist road safety in the area Clr Perram suggested that it could hire a mobile road sign, that informed drivers of their speed, and have it taken to schools in the area.

Clr Tagg agreed with the deferral motion. Clr Salvestro-Martin did not share the views of Clr Pickering and said the report was “well prepared”.

He was concerned that the lights were not compliant with RTA guidelines, and the cost of maintenance would create “abundantly clear” problems for Council in the future.

Clr O’Donnell was against the deferral saying $60,000 was a “huge amount”.

She said that the flashing lights campaign “diminishes the huge” amount of work teachers and parents have already put into school safety.

Councillors Etmekdjian, and Petch spoke for the amendment.

Council resolved (7-4) that an up-to-date report was needed to make a decision on the matter.
Councillors Perram, O’Donnell, Salvestro-Martin and Mayor Butterworth voted against the deferral.

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