Mark Rogan’s children are among those who use the ‘bus stop’ at the corner of Crispe and Henry Sts each weekday during the term to travel to Echuca-Moama schools.
Now just an empty block since the demolition of the East End Store, Mr Rogan and other parents have reportedly approached Edward River Council several times over a number of years to have shelter provided.
In their latest attempt, Mr Rogan had 12 parents and 10 students sign a petition which was delivered to council in May.
Frustrated at receiving no response a month later, Mr Rogan approached the Pastoral Times to bring the matter to the wider community’s attention.
Mr Rogan said the lack of a bus stop leaves students at the mercy of the elements, which at this time of the year means they are literally left out in the cold.
“It’s a matter of general safety and decency. They’re kids,” he said.
“They’re there from 7.25am on school day mornings.
“There are up to 15 kids and seven parents who wait there and, at the moment, there is just a concrete pad; that’s it.“
Mr Rogan reiterated this is not the only time council has been approached on this issue.
“I’ve been approaching them since the beginning of the last financial year,” he said.
“The previous deputy mayor, Paul Fellows, had indicated his full support and the former CEO (Phil Stone) was also in favour of providing a school bus shelter.
“While I have been advocating this issue for some two years, some of the parent signatories have stated that they, themselves, have made representations to council regarding this matter.
“The most expensive aspect of this matter is the concrete slab which is already in place, thus providing the council and, subsequently, ratepayers with a considerable cost saving. The unused bus stop at Coles can easily be relocated to the proposed school bus stop site.”
In response to questions from the Pastoral Times, Edward River Council said the request for a bus stop was considered in the budget process. Funding for the project was never allocated, however.
Council said it would also need a formal approach from the local bus company to trigger a formal investigation into providing such a shelter.
“It is the responsibility of local bus companies to identify when and where bus stops should be located,” a council spokesperon said.
“If council is advised by the relevant bus company that an additional bus stop is required, it will determine its capacity to deliver a new asset at that time.”
Based on council’s response, the Pastoral Times approached Dyson Group who referred us back to council or Transport for NSW.
Information provided by Transport for NSW said there are thousands of informal and undeveloped school bus stops across the state, but that there is funding available through the Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme for the construction or upgrade of bus stop infrastructure generally owned and maintained by local councils.
“If schools, transport providers and businesses would like a shelter or upgrade, they can contact their local council to make the application on their behalf,” the department’s information states.
It also stated that as Crispe St is a local road under the care and control of Edward River Council, the “installation of a bus stop is a matter for the council to investigate”.
As the owner of the Crispe St block where East End Store once stood, and as a former bus operator himself, Neville Purtill said he supports the need for a bus shelter in Crispe St.
Mr Purtill said Dyson Group has already sought his support, and he believes the company is planning to work with ERC on a solution.
The Crispe St stop is one of only two on the daily route to Echuca-Moama schools, the other being the formal bus stop in Whitelock St.
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