Council recently decided to convert the training into an outreach programme to be administered directly at local schools. The road safety programme began at the Casey Safety Village in 2006 and the venue is expected to host its final student at the end of this year. Mayor Susan Serey cited the cost as a major incentive for change saying:
“While the programme attracts around 10,000 children each year, around 60% of users are from outside the City of Casey. As the facility receives no other government funding, the cost of the service is being born by Casey ratepayers.”
She said significantly expanding the facility may have alleviated the problem, but this was not possible as the site has been earmarked for a railway station. The decision to close the centre and redirect resources to the new school-based programme was therefore the only way to proceed, according to the Mayor.
Community members and schools are often made aware of innovations such as this via flyer printing in the local area.
Currently, the Casey Safety Village hosts the CFA Learning Centre and the Casey Road Safety Education Centre which provide education programmes for both fire and road safety.