Howick and Pakuranga
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Vol 47, No 4
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Birds-eye view of Little Bucks Optimists in action off Little Bucks. This wonderful shot was taken by Cecilie Mcintyre from her home on Takutai Ave last Friday morning. Aside of the spectacular birds-eye view of the Optimists reaching on a port tack, she has also perfectly captured the rise of the peninsula, backed on the horizon by a glimpse of Motuihe Island (right of image). Bucklands Beach Yacht Club club manager Lyle Tresadern the boats weren’t from the club. “ It was a NZ Optimist clinic which they have been holding at Eastern Beach at Willow Park Christian Camp. “However with the strong onshore breeze over the last few days we suggested they come over to little Bucks where it is a bit more sheltered,” Mr Tresadern said. “The camp does encourage some of our top Optimist sailors.”
School buses change again The school bus routes are set to change as Auckland Transport announces it is once again rolling out its new and improved bus services
F
ollowing an outpouring of concern from parents in December, AT announced it would delay the changes to school bus services for up to six months until a proper consultation had taken place. However, just two months later it’s been announced the changes will take effect from term one. “At this time, we are confident that we have now engaged effectively with all of the schools. “We have listened to them and made changes where required,” a memo from AT states.
“Although it was suggested that all school bus changes should be delayed for six months, our discussions with schools have meant that we have resolved all issues that can be resolved within our financial and contractual constraints.” AT spokesperson James Ireland says that due to the public nature of the changes, they received more feedback than what they would have gotten during a standard consultation. “Many parents have engaged with us and we are confident that once they get used to the new services, they will realise these are
better than what was in place last year.” AT says they consulted with all 27 affected schools, and made changes to the seven schools with concerns. Bus routes have been reinstated for Our Lady Star of the Sea, Howick Intermediate and Botany Downs Primary and new routes have been added for Somerville Intermediate to address capacity concerns raised by the school and parents. Buses have been added to the Sacred Heart College schedule as well as changing the interchange
point to Pakuranga. AT will operate a service to Baradene from Panmure Station where students can transfer from public buses, as was always proposed, but a private dedicated school bus service will be available through Coachways NZ to Baradene and a number of other central Auckland schools on a trial basis. Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross says he is “hopeful but far from happy” with the changes being rolled out come the beginning of the school year. “The whole process has been dif-
ficult for parents to follow as the communication has not been clear, and the changes appear to have been very rushed for, what appears to be, budgetary reasons.” “AT deserves some credit for talking to all affected schools and trying to find an alternative approach after receiving feedback,” he says. “They have done this much faster than the “up to six months” that we were previously advised. We can only hope now that they have properly identified the issues and ➤ Turn to Page 3 put in place fixes.”
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By THERESE HENKIN