An ongoing campaign to improve the safety of students at Coolum State High School has paid off, with a new 40km school safety zone on David Low Way at the school to come into effect from next week.

Ninderry MP Dan Purdie said he has spent the past 12 months working closely with the school community and TMR to ensure student safety while taking into account the needs of motorists on the busy section of David Low Way.

“I’m delighted our ongoing efforts have paid off, with the new 40km school safety zone to come into effect during school hours from next week,” Mr Purdie said.

“This is a great win for the local community, who have been asking for safety upgrades for some time,” Mr Purdie said.

Mr Purdie said he had been working closely with Coolum High Principal Troy Ascott and TMR representatives to identify ways to improve the safety of the intersection at David Low Way and Havana Road East, at the school’s entrance.

“It’s always a challenge to enhance pedestrian safety while ensuring through traffic is not adversely affected, and the outcome we’ve been able to achieve here ticks both boxes.”

Coolum High Principal Troy Ascott said the safety of students was paramount.

“This is a fantastic outcome as we prepare to welcome a record number of students to the campus this year.

“As a growing school with an expanding campus, our first priority is always the safety of our students, however we are also conscious of meeting our responsibilities to the local community, whom we work closely with to deliver the first class outcomes we are achieving here at Coolum High,” Mr Ascott said.  

The new 40km school safety zone will come into effect on the first day of term on Tuesday 29 January, and will operate from 7am-9am and 2pm-4pm from 150m south of the Havana Road East intersection to the south of the Emu Mountain Road roundabout.