A dangerous crossing in the centre of Australind has not had a crossing guard for almost two months, after the last warden resigned in March citing numerous experiences of abuse from motorists.

WA Police has confirmed two new traffic wardens are scheduled to start training in May at the Paris Road and Break O’Day Drive crossing in Australind.

Police said the training would be completed within a day, with the new wardens to be equipped and operational within a week, subject to them satisfactorily meeting the requirements.

Murray-Wellington MLA David Bolt said traffic wardens played an important role in helping children safely get to and from school, and has been advocating for the return of traffic wardens to the crossing.

Mr Bolt said concerned people from a residents’ association told him about the issue and said he was initially concerned due to the high traffic levels on Paris Road, with schools such as Australind Primary School and Australind Senior High School nearby.

“As Australind and Treendale continue to grow, Paris Road is carrying more and more through traffic, which makes safe, controlled crossing points even more important for schoolchildren, pedestrians and motorists,” he said.

Mr Bolt said he had recently visited the Paris Road and Break O’Day Drive crossing and met with staff and officials from the Shire of Harvey, members of the public and local police.

Mr Bolt said road safety in school and residential areas needed to be treated seriously.

“As Australind, Treendale and other parts of the electorate continue to grow, the road network needs to keep pace with that growth,” he said.

“Safe crossings are not just about convenience.

“They are about protecting children, pedestrians, older residents and motorists, and giving families confidence that their children can get to and from school safely.”

He said crossing safety was an ongoing concern throughout the electorate, particularly in growing urban areas where more children were choosing to walk or ride to school.

“It is positive to see children being active and families choosing those options, but it also means we need to ensure the right road safety measures are in place to keep them safe,” he said.

“I also know there are other schools across the district that are seeking traffic wardens or would benefit from additional crossing support.

“That reinforces the need to grow the pool of trained wardens so more crossings can be safely managed, particularly in areas where school communities are growing.”

More information on how to become a traffic warden could be found online.