Perth Voice Interactive

A FLYER grumbling about North Perth primary school’s plans to fence its oval is doing the rounds of the neighbourhood.

Principal Karen Lockyer told parents in a newsletter a fence was needed around most of the oval and the school carpark, since “we have a continuing issue with people walking, cycling or riding motor-bikes through the school site during the school day”.

Gates are planned to keep interlopers out and the fence is needed to keep balls—and the children who chase them—away from traffic. The fence around the oval’s planned because people walk their dogs across it while kids are in the middle of sports lessons.

“I understand these measures may be unpopular with some members of our community but it is essential we know who is on the school site and our students are able to move around the school safely at all times” Ms Lockyer wrote.

The anonymous flyer complains “what’s next?”. “Residents not notified, users of the oval not notified” it says, inviting locals to contact the principal, local MP Eleni Evangel and education minister Peter Collier.

The fence plan has the backing of the P&C says president Andrea King, calling the current situation “a terrible accident waiting to happen”.

The public can still use the oval after hours and there’ll be parts unfenced to get into—handy since the German-engineered climbing dome the community raised $40,000 to install was intended for everyone to use outside school hours.

by DAVID BELL