After years of behind-the-scenes effort by the Albert Town Community Association (ATCA), a new bus shelter for school students is now in place on Alison Avenue.

Former ATCA chair Heather Thorne, who has since left the role, was a key driving force in getting the bus shelter across the line and she said she was pleased to see it finally installed.

She said the suggestion came up around three years ago after the ATCA surveyed local teenagers.

“We wanted to do something that would be of practical benefit to the kids in the area,” Heather said.

A bus shelter at the main pick-up spot for high school students, which could also serve future public transport services, was decided on.

Otago Regional Council (ORC) had a bus shelter that was surplus to requirements and they arranged to have it transported to Albert Town to store while the ATCA went through the “very slow” process of securing a License to Occupy for the bus shelter.

Heather said Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillor Lyal Cocks oversaw the installation earlier this year. 

“That isn’t in his job description but he did it and it was great,” she said.

Lyal said local businesses involved in the transport and installation had provided significant discounts for their services.

They included builder Jason Packer, Firth Concrete and Upper Clutha Transport.

Students started using the shelter for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

Current ATCA chair Lucy Mitchell thanked Heather for all her work on the bus shelter.

The project had cost somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000, she said.

PHOTO: Wānaka App