High school students on the New South Wales Far South Coast will soon be able to walk to school for the first time, after a 32-year misunderstanding with the local council.
Carroll College in Broulee banned students from walking or cycling to school in 1994 in response to a motion passed by council prohibiting pedestrian or cycle access for students due to concerns about traffic.
In March, the school approached the Eurobodalla Shire Council asking for permission to overturn the restriction.
However, during discussions with council, the school representatives were informed the motion had never been legally enforceable.
“It wasn’t placed into the development conditions that come under our development consent,” Moruya Parish Priest Father Joshua Scott said.
“That means it would not be enforceable, but we — as a college — were under the impression it was enforceable.”
“[The discussions] allowed us to have hope that — after 30 years — this misunderstanding was able to be rectified.”
Carroll College principal Andrew Kenneally said the ban was based on an “interpretation” of the consent conditions.
“I guess the vision that students couldn’t ride or walk to school was sort of the message that sat within that DA and it might not have been contested for many years.
“Over the past few months we’ve really got down to that, and working in consultation with council we’ve realised it’s not part of that agreement.”
Students ‘should have been able to’ walk to school
At a recent council meeting, the prohibition was rescinded and council approved a six-month trial allowing students to walk and ride to school.
