Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer and Nazareth Catholic Primary School principal Matt Downes with new Enhanced No Parking Zone signage. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
As students return to classrooms across the Illawarra, Shellharbour City Council is ramping up efforts to make school drop-off and pick-up safer by expanding its Enhanced No Parking Zone program to include bus zones.
The move aims to curb illegal stopping that can block buses, reduce visibility and increase the risk of children stepping in front of moving vehicles during high traffic periods.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer first launched the program across Shellharbour last year, with triangular prism-shaped bollards installed outside schools, wrapping around existing sign poles to clearly define Kiss and Drop zones.
It’s messaging included not occupying the area for more than two minutes while dropping off or picking up passengers, and remaining in or within three metres of your vehicle during that time.
This year the updated program recognises growing safety concerns around illegal parking in school bus zones, where stopped vehicles can block designated bus stops, forcing buses into traffic and significantly reducing visibility for drivers and children.
It was launched at Nazareth Catholic Primary School last week, which returned to school a week earlier than public schools.
“Parking in these zones can create dangerous conditions, particularly when buses are loading or unloading students,” Cr Homer said.
“It can increase congestion, obstruct sight lines and raise the risk of children stepping out from behind parked cars into moving traffic.”
Under the expanded program to improve driver behaviour, the large and highly visible Enhanced No Parking Zone corflute bollards already used at schools will extend to bus zones with messaging that reinforces no parking rules and encourages drivers to be bus aware.
“This refreshed campaign is about making school environments safer for everyone,” Cr Homer said.
“School bus zones are critical safety areas, not parking spots for convenience.
“When drivers stop in these zones, it puts children at risk and disrupts traffic flow.”
He said each bollard featured safety messages on all three sides, highlighting key parking rules and reminding drivers why these zones must be kept clear.
“These new bollards make the rules clear and visible and help drivers understand the serious safety risks caused by parking where they shouldn’t,” he said.
Parents and carers are asked to plan ahead, use designated Kiss and Drop areas where available, and always obey parking and stopping restrictions to help keep school communities safe.
The Enhanced No Parking Zone program was created by Shellharbour City Council and funded by Transport for NSW.
