Rural Kids Bus Shelter Project Report Bob Gillon November 2018 The 3 Total Span Bus Shelters are completed and in use by local children in Te Rahu Road, Downard Road and Sutherland Road.
In May 2018 the Beacon ran an article calling for rural families to suggest sites for the bus shelters with a good response.
In negotiation with local schools and farmers, UzaBus, Whakatane District Council, Transit NZ and Chorus the 3 sites were selected and the pallets containing all the components were delivered from the factory in Christchurch to my home. Each frame was put together in my front yard. I commenced the on-site work clearing the sites, digging drainage and erecting boxing.
Whakatane ITM provided the steel mesh. The concrete base was poured - provided by Allied Concrete, then the frames transported to the site by trailer, lifted on and off by 4 strong neighbours and local farmers.
Then the wall panels, windows and roof were attached. Signage was ordered, printed and installed. Final site work included trailer loads of gravel provided by Awakeri Quarries spread between the shelter and the road and posts installed to protect the corners from damage. Job done!!
As a trustee of the Whakatane Jaycees money (service club no longer in existence) I had a responsibility to see the money - $9800 - was spent on a Youth project. The Bus shelters bought through Totalspan Gisborne met this criterion. Whakatane West Rotary Club (now Whakatane Rotary Club) endorsed the project and paid $494 towards the signage. (Diverse Graphics Design). A few statistics for 3 shelters for future reference if anyone planning on building any more
1.8 cubic metres concrete 3 sheets steel mesh 6 trailer loads of Gap 20 metal for the front entrances 1714 screws to hold the frames together 1108 cladding screws, roof, walls, seats 325 rivets, windows, panels and signs 6 100 x100 protective posts 6 100 x100 protective posts.Mileage; Bob approx. 1500 km including trips to Tauranga to visit existing shelters to check how they were built when the instructions were unclear. Voluntary Labour: - Bob over 350 hours. Friend Bruce Pearce 25 hours Plus, many extra hours talking to inquisitive passers-by and local families all of whom gave their seal of approval, the most frequently asked question “who is paying you”?
Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to persevere with this project and to my wife Faye for computer work and who is really pleased to have bus shelter frames away from our front yard!
Well done Bob, his wife Faye and the Team of helpers!
Well done Bob, his wife Faye and the Team of helpers!