Safety issues and increased traffic congestion concerns raised after opening of Catherine McAuley College in Medowie

State MP Kate Washington said that she had been inundated with inquiries from residents concerned about safety issues and increased traffic congestion near the new Catherine McAuley College along Medowie Road.

"The extra bus routes are causing major headaches for some families. I've spoken with the local bus company and I've raised my concerns with ministers Paul Toole (Regional Transport and Roads) and Andrew Constance (Transport). Everyone needs to come to the table to find a solution that's workable, and safe for our kids," she said.

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said the department had reviewed submissions for improvements to services from the three relevant operators servicing the schools in the Medowie area (including Catherine McCauley Catholic College).

"The three operators prepared their submissions based on student enrolment information provided by Catherine McCauley Catholic College. Improvements to services commenced in January 2021, the spokesperson said.

"Ahead of students returning to school in 2021, improvements were made across the Medowie school network including updating timetables, adjusting routes and adding additional services to facilitate services to the new Catherine McCauley Catholic College and better connect students to dedicated school services.

"Bus operators will continue to monitor services throughout semester one."

Ms Washington said the problems were exacerbated due to students from Medowie needing to travel by bus to Raymond Terrace and Newcastle "because there is no public high school in Medowie".

"The combination of all these factors has had a significant impact on the arrangements for school bus services, and whilst many students and families experienced positive changes, others have been adversely impacted."

Medowie parent Nicole Garner said that she had concerns for her Year 7 child who lives within the 2.9km radius of the Catherine McAuley College and therefore was not eligible for a bus pass.

"The morning school bus has several students from the new school and diverts into the school to drop them off. Of an afternoon, however, he is required to catch the school shuttle bus across to South Street. He then has to cross South Street to wait for the 136 [public bus]," she said.

"The last two days he has been the only child waiting for this bus for over 20 minutes. South Street of an afternoon has become extremely busy, as its a pick-up point for a lot of parents and other bus transfers. It really isn't a very safe option."

A school spokesperson said that the school had no jurisdiction over the public bus routes.

"The safety of students is paramount and for that reason we have provided children with a free shuttle service from the school to South Street until a pedestrian crossing is constructed across Medowie Road," the spokesperson said.

"The design of the school access and entry way is in line with advice from the Department of Planning, and the school follows an approved Traffic Management Plan.

"The design, with safety measures including barriers, is intended to discourage any stopping along Medowie Road. Parents have been advised not to stop nor to drop their children off on Medowie Road," the spokesperson said.

In her correspondence to the ministers, Ms Washington said that safety of school children extended across the Port.

"Parents and local residents have contacted me to report a string of concerns, including that students arriving at one school before there is teacher supervision and leaving from school late; students arriving at school after it has started; and high schools students waiting an hour for their afternoon bus to leave the school," she said.

"There are also issues with students on overcrowded buses being required to stand in the aisles while travelling on 80kmph roads for over an hour each way, and students leaving home very early and arriving home very late despite attending the local feeder high school just one town away."

Ms Washington said that residents had also requested flashing lights in the 40km/h school zone outside the new catholic school as an extra precautionary measure.

"It seems to me that local school bus providers need more funding from Transport for NSW so that they can create new routes and run more buses, so all students can get to school safely and at the right time."

Ms Garner said that the NSW government had an obligation to ensure that all students be able to travel and return safety to school.

"I do not see how the current arrangements meet this obligations for safe travel."