The council received correspondence from the City of Monash in December last year, seeking information from the Campaspe Shire regarding its financial commitment to the management of school crossings.
The City of Monash intends to review its future role in the funding of school crossing supervisors.
At its November meeting the Monash council, which takes in the south-eastern suburbs of Chadstone, Oakleigh, Glen Waverley and Mount Waverley, moved a motion to write to the mayors of all other Victorian councils and the Municipal Association of Victoria seeking the views of other councils on the question of continuing to fund, and provide, school crossing supervision services.
The Monash council has given notice to the Victorian Government, and all Monash schools, that it is seriously considering its future role in funding school crossing supervision.
Campaspe Shire Council has identified two options in response to the City of Monash approach for information about its crossings.
It can either provide the information and assist the City of Monash’s push back against the state government (the council officer’s recommendation), or decline the offer to be involved in the project.
In a report to council, cost-shifting, from state to local government, was a major topic of consideration.
The report explained aerodrome services, child-care services, animal pound and shelter services and maternal child health services had also taken a similar funding path to become the responsibility of local government.
A recommendation to Wednesday’s council meeting will include providing the City of Monash with details of Campaspe shire’s current responsibilities, costs and difficulties in maintaining the services.
It will also receive an update from the City of Monash in regard to the responses it has received from other councils and its subsequent deliberation and decision.
Campaspe Shire Council, along with many other Victorian councils, has advocated for some time for the state government to be responsible for the provision of the school crossing service — through the Education Department and the Department of Transport.
It costs the Campaspe Shire $165,258 (after state government subsidies) a year to manage the school crossings, the figure reduced significantly through a state government subsidy paid through VicRoads.
Council received a subsidy of $90,615 in 2020-21, to offset the total cost of running the supervised crossings — which was $255,875.
In order to receive the subsidy council officers are required to provide VicRoads with an annual review of all crossings, including associated data and the number of supervisors required at each crossing.
VicRoads then undertakes a review of the crossings to determine funding support under the Children’s Crossing Supervisor Subsidy Scheme.
