Children's safety of prime concern

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 4, 28 June 1983, Page 2

Children's safety of prime concern

Ruapehu College students are seen making their way home on-foot and by bicycle, along Tainui Street, after school last week, with school buses and private cars in the background. Soon after this picture was taken a truck carrying market garden produce was driven down the street. For several years and up until recently, some students from the College ("between 20-30") and others from the Ohakune Primary School ("about 20") used an unofficial,

'short cut' across private property between the two schools in Tainui Street and Arawa Street. Now that the new owners of this property (leased from the Lands and Survey Department) are actively farming the land — it had previously been leased by Max Davis, owner operator of Ruapehu Coachlines — the 'unofficial walkway' has been discouraged. This has meant that school children travelling in either direction between home and both schools now have to walk 'round the block' via Shannon Street or along the main Rangataua Road (SH49). There are no formed footpaths, along either Shannon or Tainui Streets and the boards of both schools are concerned about the safety of children using these two roads

before and after school. And, with the potential increase in pedestrian traffic between the two schools when the Ruapehu College gymnasium is completed, the safety factor will become a prime concern. The Ohakune Borougb Council is also concerned at the situation and discussed the matter at this month's full meeting of Council but could see no way they could find finance for footpaths, kerbs and channelling along Tainui and Shannon Streets to meet the immediate need. The boards of both schools and the cound^ hope to be able to reat^W some amicable agreemeni with the owner of the property concerned. (Note: The distance by road, between the front entrance of one school to the other via Shannon Street, is 1.3km (8 tenths of a mile) and via the main road is 1.8km (just over 1 mile).