My name is George Tsianakas, and I’m an 18-year-old Year 12 student and Vice-Captain at Alphington Grammar School. I have been a student at the school since 2016. I walk through the gates on Old Heidelberg Road every day. I cross between classrooms alongside students as young as three. That gate isn’t just a structure—it’s a promise of safety. I’m writing to ask you, urgently, to help us keep that promise and protect all students from unnecessary vehicle access.

In 2022, I was honoured to be selected as a state finalist in the Victorian Parliamentary Prize for a speech addressing the importance of this very issue. The fact that I spoke about this gate and fence three years ago—and that we are still fighting to keep it in place for the safety of nearly 800 students—says everything about how seriously our school community takes this matter.

The fence and gate on Old Heidelberg Road have historically been in place for more than 70 years. Following the tragic death of six-year-old Constantine Politis in 2003, who was struck by a car on this very road, the need to keep vehicles away from the unmade portion of Old Heidelberg Road has become even more crucial. For over seven decades, gates have served as a vital safety measure, protecting students as they move between buildings throughout the day—some 1,600 transitions on any school day.

Although one of the pedestrian gates was forcibly removed by Yarra City Council on 24 May 2022, the remaining structure and full road access are now set to be opened to the public as part of the Council’s 2025–2026 budget. Approved on 17 June 2025, this includes $403,000 allocated for resurfacing the road, removing the rest of the entry structure, and painting a pedestrian crossing—all scheduled for completion by September 2025.

Yarra Council’s justification is that the structure was built illegally and must be removed to avoid setting a precedent. But what precedent is that? Safety? Accountability? Community protection? What risk assessment has been done? Sometimes, what is built is built with a specific purpose in mind. Constantine lost his life on this road—that is not a technicality, it’s a legacy of mismanagement by Yarra City Council in dealing with a redundant piece of infrastructure that leads nowhere.

Mayor Stephen Jolly said publicly on 3AW Radio that he is “very comfortable” with the removal of the gate and that Alphington parents are “carrying on like we live in LA, this is sleepy Alphington.” With respect, the Mayor may have forgotten that Constantine has already died on this road. That alone should command caution. He also stated the school must not be allowed to set a precedent by keeping the structure in place. But I ask again—what kind of precedent is that? Are we punishing the school for trying too hard to protect its children?

Council’s resolution on 5 October 2021 was to “enable general public access by pedestrians to Darebin Reserve.” Council claims that removing the gate and fence restores public access to Darebin Creek. Yet pedestrian access already exists 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What remains blocked is access to the bike path, which is fenced off by VicRoads—not the school. The current plan simply leads to a dead end, with no exit point for pedestrians or vehicles. This is literally a road to nowhere, and it’s costing over $400,000 of taxpayer money.

Even more concerning, Yarra Council minutes from 5 October 2021 show that Mr Gilbert stated no public risk assessment had been conducted and that there are no confirmed plans for fencing, bollards, or supervision when the road reopens. What do cars do when they reach the end—how do they turn around on an unmade road? Teachers have been told they are expected to manage vehicle traffic. But they are teachers, not traffic controllers. Their focus should be on educating students, not putting themselves at risk to protect children from vehicles attempting unsafe manoeuvres to reverse out of a road with no exit.

This is not about special treatment. This is about recognising that the location of Alphington Grammar is unique—unlike any other school in Victoria. It is located on a dead-end road with no through traffic, and students walk every period between buildings in both directions. Since COVID lockdowns and the 2022 removal of the single pedestrian gate, members of the public have accessed the land freely, including walking dogs through drop-off zones. “Sleepy Alphington” has also seen individuals removing fencing with pliers and bolt cutters, and even riding scooters through VicRoads fencing—all caught on CCTV.

Our school community—staff, parents, and students—has responded respectfully. We’ve raised our voices through petitions, media interviews, and direct communication with Council. The school has also installed CCTV, increased 24-hour security, and made significant efforts to protect students. Yet our concerns have been dismissed. A new Council now has the power to review and overturn the decision made on 5 October 2021. Mayor Stephen Jolly has not made himself available to meet with the school to find a solution that works for all—at no taxpayer cost.

While I respect Council’s intention to maintain public access, I believe there is a way to do so without compromising student safety. VicRoads itself rejected this route due to safety concerns, environmental impact, and high cost. Instead, it has invested $9.1 million into a safer alternative path that avoids the school entirely. Meanwhile, Yarra Council believes spending over $400,000 for the first stage of a piecemeal access plan to the bike trail—requiring further State Government facilitation—is a sound use of public funds.

Politicians often say youth voices matter. I am here, speaking clearly—not just for myself, but for every child who walks through those school gates.I respectfully ask:

1. That the planned roadworks and full gate removal in September 2025 be halted.

2. That a transparent, independent Road Safety Assessment be conducted.

3. That the State Government lead a constructive conversation to find a solution that respects both public access and the safety of children.

I invite you to visit our School. Walk the road. Speak with staff, parents and the Principal. Hear from the leaders of tomorrow and the youth who hold hands as they cross from one building to another.

Protecting kids isn’t political, it’s just the right and ethical thing to do.

At the very least, I ask you to sign the petition. Your support is needed.

Yours sincerely,

George Tsianakas