The Howick Local Board area’s newest school, Te Uho o te Nikau Primary in Flat Bush School Road, has had funding of $1million ring-fenced to improve safety for children walking to school.
Board members agreed the money needed to be set aside for a project to improve safety on a narrow bridge without footpaths that the children must cross.
Board chair David Collings says Auckland Transport will soon release details of a fund it will have available for road safety improvement projects, and the bridge was a “no-brainer”.
“We have talked about a variety of projects to help Te Uho o Te Nikau and, although no decisions have been made, we have earmarked $1 million of our Transport Capital Fund as a reserve for future delivery of the project, and we will investigate using the Regional Safety Fund in June.”
School board of trustees member Karen Gibson has urged the board to use its powers to encourage others to act as quickly as possible, because the situation represents a danger to young children.
“We have little ones crossing to and from school, and that bridge is an accident waiting to happen.”
