Pegasus Post: February 29, 2024

Thursday February 29 2024 5
Project aiming to
make streets safer
• From page 1
But Burwood Ward city
councillor Kelly Barber, who
was at the meeting, said Firth-
Scott endorsed installing a
raised pedestrian crossing
outside and again opposed
changes to the drop-off zone.
“After consultation, there will
be no changes to the drop-off
area and Rose is happy with
that outcome,” Barber said.
The Aranui Streets Project
was developed following community
engagement, with safety
improvements to high pedestrian
areas around Chisnallwood
Intermediate School, Haeata
Community Campus, St James
School, Wainoni Park and the
Hampshire St shops.
Improvements include installation
of safe speed bumps, upgrades
to pedestrian crossings
and intersections, and widening
footpaths.
Barber said because the
project is temporary, anything
installed which is of concern
may be reversed, depending on
community feedback.
“The overall sentiment of
what the council is trying to
achieve is positive but it is
important to find solutions that
make sense. I hope the speed
bumps stay.’’
The removal of car parking
has prompted some concerns.
Eastern Eagles Rugby League
Club volunteer Fina F’amoe was
LIMITED PARKING:
Median-flex posts have
been installed outside
Wainoni Park taking away
about 15-20 parks.
worried about the lack of parking
along Hampshire St in front
of Wainoni Park, now medianflex
posts have been installed.
“We already have limited
parking and now we’ve lost
about 15-20 car parks. What
happens when league season
begins or events are held? We
need to park somewhere,” said
F’amoe.
Bradbury said 70 per cent
of construction of the project
was under way. The project was
looking to meet its proposed
completion date of March 18,
depending on weather.
Work outside the former Avondale
Primary School has started
and includes adding raised
pedestrian crossings and new
road markings. After that, work
will start outside Chisnallwood
before moving on to Rowan Ave
outside St James School.
The intention is for no work
to happen outside schools between
8.20-9am and 2.30-3pm.
Frustration after thieves
leave residents powerless
• By Emily O’Hagan
PRESCHOOL teachers from
Educational Child Care Centre
in Dallington are at their wits’
end.
They have arrived at work to
find there is no power on four
separate occasions over the last
two weeks.
The outages were caused by
thieves who have been stealing
copper from the powerlines
along Gayhurst Rd at night.
This means some Dallington
residents, and businesses like the
child care centre, are waking up
to find they have no electricity.
Educational Child Care Centre
manager Sarah Webb-Matenga
said it is proving difficult to keep
the preschool running.
“We just haven’t been able to
open. The first time we couldn’t
open until after 10. And this last
two times, it was sort of nine”.
The centre is concerned the
ongoing issue of outages could
result in them losing some families
to other preschools.
The difficult situation is
starting to become stressful
for parents trying to drop off
their children first thing in the
morning.
Sara Farmer, a parent of
one of the preschoolers, said
FRUSTRATION: Thieves have stolen copper wire from
the Educational Child Care Centre in Dallington on four
separate occasions leaving the business without power.
PHOTO: EMILY O’HAGAN
the situation is incredibly
challenging for parents.
“We have to get to work or we
have our day set out and planned
already and this is just a setback
for your morning”.
The repeated bold attacks are
puzzling residents, who have
various theories as to who might
be responsible and why they are
doing it.
Farmer said it must be someone
who is trained in dealing with
power lines.
“It’s not like every Tom, Dick
and Harry knows how to take
down power lines. It’s just insane.”
• Watch the video on
Starnews.co.nz
It is not just the adults who are
baffled by the run of incidents
– the centre’s children are also
confused about what is going on.
Webb-Matenga said the kids
are frightened of the thieves.
“We had a wee boy arrive this
morning with a torch in case it’s
dark again”.
The childcare centre is asking
nearby residents to keep their
eyes open and to report any
suspicious activity, and they hope
police can make this electric
crime wave in Dallington a
priority.
– Made with the support of NZ
On Air
New eveNt
with 50 vintage vehicles
Cars, Motorcycles and
Trucks over 100 years old
2024
BROOKLANDS TO BRIGHTON RUN
Vintage Car Club
Brooklands to
New Brighton Run
Saturday 2nd March
Departs Brooklands 10am
See the vehicles along the route or on display at end of
run in New Brighton Business Park, Hawke St until 2pm