Austin Cove Baptist College is calling on the state government to build road access to South Yunderup from Forrest Highway as traffic in the area is set to explode when the school slashes its fees in 2017.
Principal Orlando dos Santos said roads leading to Austin Cove were already choked at school drop-off and pick-up times, but he was preparing for an “avalanche” of enrolments as fees drop from $6000 to $2500 a year.
When the school opened in 2011, the only access was from South Yunderup Road, which meant parents driving from the east and south were forced on a massive detour up Pinjarra Road rather than turning off from Forrest Highway.
In 2011 an Austin Cove student died in a major crash on South Yunderup Road, prompting the school to campaign for bus services and better roads.
“I was very concerned at that time that we were starting with 350 students and and there was no bus service and that bridge [on South Yunderup Road] was not going to take the traffic,” Mr dos Santos said.
“We put another two hundred cars on the road within 45 minutes in the morning and the night and there was heavy congestion.
“Seven years later, we are having traffic lights put in at South Yunderup and Pinjarra Road, but the bridge is still there, there are a lot more houses, there is now a primary school there, you’ve got congestion on the bridge, at the primary school, and you’ve got to come down this road with a whole lot of roos to get to the high school.”
The school will eventually accommodate 1150 students and 30,000 homes are expected to be built in the area by 2035.
Mr dos Santos said cars should be permitted to turn into Beacham Road from Forrest Highway, allowing direct access to the school and reducing what is now four and a half kilometres of congestion through South Yunderup.
“By alleviating some of that pressure and taking 230 kids through Beacham Road it would save a lot of cars travelling through that area there,” he said.
“I don’t believe those roads can actually take it and we’re just going to grow.”
Main Roads media manager Dean Roberts said there would be no changes to the intersection.
“Traffic signals are currently being installed at the intersection of Pinjarra Road and South Yunderup Road which will reduce congestion and improve road safety,” he said.
“Main Roads does not support the reopening of Beacham Road (east) onto Forrest Highway due to safety concerns, as it will unnecessarily encourage motorists to use an intersection on a high speed rural highway, resulting in a significant risk of serious traffic crashes and a reduction in operating conditions on this important inter-regional freight route.
“There are no plans for future connections to Forest Highway from South Yunderup or the adjacent Austin Cove Development.”
But Mr dos Santos said he was worried about the safety of his students and their families if there was not better access to the suburb.
“It’s only going to get worse because there’s going to be more houses, more population, and coming around the back way from the highway makes a lot more sense than going three and a half kilometres up South Yunderup Road, then a kilometre down Inlet Boulevard and Schoales Bend,” he said.
“I’m concerned about our students driving through all that so I would like it done as soon as possible.”
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
