A change to the parking and drop-off areas at Upwey South Primary School has drawn the ire of some local families.
Parking near the school at pick-up and drop-off times has been reduced to 15-minute zones or No Standing zones, particularly on one side of the road that had previously been used by families.
A Morris Road resident and school mum contacted the Star Mail to share their concerns and said the new parking changes have left parents with very limited and impractical options—particularly those who need to walk their child into school, whether due to age, safety concerns, or additional needs.
“Most nearby parking has either been removed or restricted, meaning families are now forced to park much further away, often 400 to 600 metres or more from the school gates if they are lucky. This significantly increases walking distance, which is especially challenging for younger children, families with multiple kids, or carers like grandparents who may have mobility issues,” she said.
“The areas now that will be used for parking are also far less safe, with double lines, poor visibility, and higher traffic flow, it’s not a matter of inconvenience, it’s a genuine safety concern,”
“Time is another major factor, many families are juggling work commitments, and the added time it now takes to find parking and walk long distances twice a day puts even more pressure on already busy schedules.”
Upwey South Primary School maintains an enrolment of within 10 per cent of 350 students each year.
A Yarra Ranges Council spokesperson said these changes have been informed by feedback from the school and are in response to long-standing safety concerns that have been raised by the broader school community.
“We acknowledge that school drop-off and pick-up times can be a busy time of day for families, and that the recent changes on Morris Road may have an initial impact on some families which may take some time to adjust to,” they said.
“The decision to introduce 15-minute parking was made to increase the turnover of parking spaces on Morris Road. Currently, the road is not wide enough to park two vehicles opposite one another and safely maintain the two lanes of traffic required for the busy road,”
“The new signage and line marking works will improve safety, ease congestion, and maintain visibility around the school, while still allowing parking during off-peak periods.”
Letters outlining the changes were sent out to families on 12 June 2025, with the changes implemented within the next month before the end of the school term.
The Upwey South Primary School parent said families now have no option but to park further along the road, where it’s far more dangerous due to double lines and limited visibility.
“Safety is now a major issue and it has just moved the ‘congestion’ that they are worried about further along, as a mum with a newborn and toddler, I’ve had to drive to school due to weather or limited mobility numerous times, however now that is not a possible at all,” they said.
“My young son at the school is not old enough nor confident enough to be just dropped off, he needs someone to walk him in and pick him up from his classroom, I’ve also heard from numerous families who are completely confused and frustrated by these changes, many are questioning how this is supposed to work and why it was even necessary,”
“I’ve had more than 10 parents reach out asking to park in my driveway or on our nature strip—500 metres from school—which highlights the level of desperation and confusion this change has caused.”
School is set to return for Term Three on Monday 21 July.
The council spokesperson said for families who require longer-term parking, unrestricted parking remains available in close proximity to the school, particularly south of the school crossing on the east side of Morris Road.
“We strongly advise families to ensure that their parking location is both safe and legal. Parking within three meters of a continuous dividing line (solid centre line) is generally prohibited unless there are parking signs indicating otherwise or the line is broken,” they said.
“Council has worked directly with Upwey South Primary School to address safety concerns, but we are always happy to hear from community on any parking matters and investigate them accordingly.”
Upwey South Primary School were contacted and declined to comment.
The mum said ideally, they hope the council genuinely listens to the concerns of parents, carers, staff, and the broader school community and works with us to find a solution that’s both safe and practical.
“I’m not sure what has suddenly changed after 60 years of the school being there — why it’s now considered an issue, especially when, to my knowledge, there have been no incidents,” she said.
“Like many areas in the Hills, it’s a highly sought-after location for families and surely, when you buy a home near a school, you do so with the understanding that there will be some congestion during drop-off and pick-up times,”
“What’s most frustrating is that this change was made without any community consultation, which has caused unnecessary stress and confusion. Going forward, I hope the council takes a more collaborative approach and recognises that accessible and safe school access is not a luxury, it’s essential.”
