New Ashburton footpath will increase walking and biking to school
From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
A huge moment for student safety.
That’s how Ashburton Christian School principal Tim Kuipers reacted to the news his school is finally getting a footpath.
“Safety is the number one thing and because of a footpath more parents will be confident to send their students walking and biking rather than drop them off,” Kuipers said.
Out of its $4.19 million of Three Waters Better-Off funding, the Ashburton District Council has $900,000 for additional new footpaths.
This will see an additional 2262m of footpath, and the associated kerb and channel, at seven locations as well as a footbridge on Allens Road in Ashburton.
One of the new footpaths is a 482m stretch along Albert St, from Trevors Rd to the Ashburton Christian School.
The school sits just outside the Ashburton town boundary and currently students walking to school have to use the grass verge or the risker road edge.
“In the last three years I’ve had about five calls of concern about incidents on the road, Kuipers said.
“It’s particularly difficult in the wet of winter for students.”
With a roll of 258 and growing, Kuipers said they had about 50 walking or biking to school but sees that number drastically increasing with a footpath improving access and safety.
“I don’t know by how much but it will certainly increase.”
An increase in leg-powered transport – walking, biking and scooters - will also reduce the number of cars heading to and from the school each day, he said.
Since the school opened in 2009 the footpath has been on the council’s radar and Kuipers said the school has put in three requests in the last five years for one to be installed.
It was raised at the board meeting on Tuesday night and he was preparing another appeal only to learn of the council’s decision.
Councillor Russell Ellis said he was pleased to see the footpath to the school included with “the development that is going on now at the side of town”.
“The safety of those kids and not having to walk on the road when the grass is wet, I think this one is overdue,” Ellis said.
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan said the almost 700m footpath along Line Road in Methven would be well received by the Methven Community Board “because it’s something they had wanted to see for quite a few years”.
The footbridge on Allens Rd will provide a safe link between the existing footpath and a scheduled 520m extension in the 2023-24 work programme.
There are no footpaths for Rakaia or Hinds in Better-Off funding but roading manager Mark Chamberlain said there was plenty in the forward work programme.
In 2023-24 there are 208m of new footpath in Rakaia and 250m in Mt Somers, while there are about 760m of new footpath in Hinds and 419 in Rakaia earmarked for 2024-25.
Better-off new footpaths:
Wakanui Rd (Trevors Rd to end of Strowan Fields subdivision)
Trevors Rd (Albert St to Wakanui Rd)
Albert St (Trevors Rd to Ashburton Christian School)
Dolma St (end of existing to Line Rd)
Line ad (Methven Chertsey Rd to Dolma St)
Tinwald Westerfield Mayfield Rd (Tarbottons Rd to Lagmhor Rd)
Lagmhor Rd (end of kerb to Tinwald Westerfield Mayfield Rd)
Allens Rd footbridge at Mill Creek.
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
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