West Wimmera Shire Council has met school crossing supervisor Joanne Sullivan and Kaniva police officers to discuss safety concerns.

The crossing is on Commercial Street, which becomes the Western Highway.

Mayor Annette Jones said a number of safety issues were identified and council needed to act quickly.

She said issues included a wide road, service roads, numerous changes to the speed limit, speeding cars and small safety lights.

‘‘The school crossing supervisor felt she was in a difficult position,’’ she said. ‘‘She is responsible for the children’s safety, but the situation she has to put those children in every day is perilous.

‘‘We need to act upon these measures as well as we can.’’

Council previously lobbied for a school speed limit of 40 kilometres an hour to be introduced.

The speed limit was changed to 40kmh in July, following VicRoads’ Victorian Speed Limit Review.

Cr Bruce Meyer said the speed limit through the town now changed from 100kmh to 60kmh, to 40kmh, to 60kmh, to 50kmh, to 60kmh, to 100kmh.

‘‘There is a large 60kmh sign on the edge of town, and then a smaller 40kmh sign,’’ he said.

‘‘Most strangers to town still think they are in a 60kmh zone and the police are getting a bit of business out of it.’’

Cr Jones said Kaniva police booked at least one person at the crossing each day.

‘‘The only reason they don’t book more people is because it takes so long to do the paperwork,’’ she said.

Chief executive Mark Crouch said council had advocated for more safety measures for many years, without much success.

‘‘It is about time practical and commonsense measures were brought in to avoid the high-risk implications posed by the crossing on an increasingly busy Western Highway,’’ he said.

‘‘The matter has also been raised at the VicRoads cluster meeting of councils, with safety concerns also expressed by Hindmarsh Shire with regard to its crossing at Nhill.’’

Council will investigate new larger and brighter lighting and safety clothing.

Council will also request VicRoads change the speed limit along Commercial Street, Kaniva, to reduce confusion.