A second crash within a week has shocked the Umina Beach Public School community and raised fresh concerns over plans to locate a pre-school within the school grounds.
NSW Police confirmed a car struck two boys at approximately 4.30pm on Tuesday, August 5, on Melbourne Ave near the corner of Hobart Ave, Umina Beach.
One boy suffered an ankle injury, while the other’s injury was non-life-threatening; he was later transferred to a children’s hospital for further treatment.
The boys had been riding an electric scooter.
The female driver was not injured.
The incident came days after a stolen vehicle collided with a taxi, sending it into a home on that same corner, as parents and children arrived for morning drop-off at the adjacent Umina Beach Public School on July 31.
“We are lucky no one was hurt, but the emotional impact of seeing a car crash through your home is not something our children can forget,” the homeowner said at the time.
The family described the intersection as long-term dangerous.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for tragedy before real safety changes are made,” they said.
The community says the two accidents highlight safety concerns in the school precinct.
Central Coast Councillor Belinda Neal said Council has a concept plan for traffic lights at Hobart Ave and Melbourne Ave, but its application for funding the works through the State Government Get Kids Active funding was unsuccessful.
Vice President of the Umina Beach Public School P&C, Nellie Feeney, has opposed a proposed car park on school grounds, which the Department of School Infrastructure says Council requires for a preschool development on the site.
“The Department of Education and Early Learning, School Infrastructure and Central Coast Council need to start listening to us,” she said.
Feeney said the car park’s Sydney Ave entry would worsen safety at the Hobart Ave intersections.
But Neal said Council has not imposed the requirement of a car park, noting proposed works are not linked to a development application.
An impacted sign, dented guardrails and debris at the intersection show ongoing risks.
Sydney Ave resident, parent and business owner Jemma Wood said speeding and blocked roundabouts are creating danger for students, families and wildlife.
She reported that two ducks and a kookaburra were killed in the past week during school peak times, distressing children, and is calling on the school, the State Government, Council and police to act.
State Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, said two separate things were going on.
She confirmed a traffic management study is underway ahead of the preschool development.
On the crash, she noted electric scooters on roads and shared paths are illegal in NSW.
“My heart goes out to the kids and families, as someone who had a crash on a mountain bike as a 19-year-old,” she said.
A meeting between School Infrastructure NSW and the school’s representatives regarding the preschool is set for Friday, August 15.
Ivona Rose
The debris left at the intersection is a joke. isn’t council supposed to clean it up. glass and sharp plastics are everywhere in Umina numourous intersection still have debris from accidents months ago. disgraceful council that does nothing to help improve the look and safety of our area.
Maybe Ivona Rose needs to get her facts right and research better, I am the mother of one of the boys that was hit and not one bit of her information published here is correct. I would be looking for a new journalist asap miinformed wrong information