Member for Macquarie Fields Anoulack Chanthivong MP has called for urgent action to fix the traffic chaos at Bardia Public School amid growing fears that children’s lives are being put at risk.  

Mr Chanthivong has received a barrage of complaints following the recent opening of (new) MacDonald Road, connecting to Campbelltown Road. The traffic situation has become so chaotic and dangerous that parents and staff at the school are concerned it will result in tragedy if urgent measures are not taken to improve the situation.

Mr Chanthivong met with parents outside the school on Friday to see the situation first-hand, after writing to both the Minister for Education and the Minister for Transport and Roads calling for urgent action.

He said the State Government had failed to anticipate or address the traffic chaos since the redeveloped school opened earlier this year. Bardia Public School’s student population is set to burgeon – from around 300 students to a staggering 1000 students over the next two to three years. The school is located in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing areas, with new homes being built each day.

With no crossing immediately in front of the school, students and parents are forced to walk considerable distance to the traffic lights at the intersection of (new) MacDonald Road and Campbelltown Road in order to cross the busy 70km/hour (new) MacDonald Road safely. 

A sole kiss ‘n’ ride area on Arthur Allen Drive has led to unsafe driver behaviour – including U-turns in front of the school – placing students at significant risk. The traffic confusion and chaos around the school has already resulted in a traffic collision, with parents and school staff holding grave fears that inaction will result in tragedy.

Mr Chanthivong said it was hoped that a set of traffic lights could be expedited at the intersection of Arthur Allen Drive and MacDonald Road to enable students to cross safely. Parents and school staff are also urgently calling for a 40km/hour school zone on MacDonald Road.

Mr Chanthivong is also seeking answers on why the Education Department is waiting until 2020 to convert the former MacDonald Road into a long kiss ‘n’ ride and 40 vertical parking spaces. 

“Under this Liberal Government, chaos and inaction reign,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“The situation at Bardia Public School is yet another example of the State Liberal Government’s poor planning in south west Sydney, where our needs are continually ignored.

“I truly hope it does not take a tragedy to prompt this Government into action.”