There has been renewed interest in the construction of a bus shelter for Burragate.


A couple of things have prompted this- the fact that the high school and primary school buses now use the same bus stop, and the fact that it does rain sometimes now and there is very limited shelter under the old noticeboard.

The noticeboard area is considered to be the best spot for a bus shelter because it is central, has plenty  of room, is near the letterboxes and bin bank & is also often used as a meeting point for car pooling or picking up kids from shared transport. In addition it could also be used for passengers on the weekly Community Access Bus. A well designed bus shelter would provide a better image for the gateway to Burragate.

We are currently thinking about the designs for the bus shelter. If you'd like to contribute ideas and suggestions, fill in the form soon to be delivered locally. Completed forms can be put in Nancy & Paul's letterbox (the black one 4th from the RHS in the main letterbox row). The same form is also available online on a special Burragate bus shelter website for your comments - www.thebegavalley.org.au/burragatebus.html. Deadline for input is end of July so the final design and costings etc can be worked out for the grant application.

We envisage the bus shelter would have bench seating, community noticeboard, and also possibly a bike rack, water tank and other features.

A letter requesting funding has been sent to Council. We are also applying for a grant under the ‘Small Rural Grants for Small Rural Communities' grant program which closes in September and provides up to $5000. We will probably apply under the auspices of the Towamba P&C as many of our students get on the bus at Burragate (and because it's the most relevant incorporated local community group). There is also some Towamba Garden Club money set aside for Burragate that could be used for gardens, and if the budget requires, and the community agrees, community funds from the former BCA could also be used.

The grant application will be done by some Burragate parents in the Towamba P&C. Depending on what sort of grant and government assistance we can get, we will be hoping for a good participation at a couple of community working bees to build the shelter.

Community input needs to be in by end of July or as soon as possible, so the final design can be finalised. Costings would then be worked out and the grant submission written and submitted by September 30. If we are successful in gaining funding, then it is expected that the construction phase would commence early in 2008. Please have your say now. It will be great!