Cr Dean Saul is lending his support to parents and grandparents, and will table a motion today at the monthly council meeting to erect a shelter at Cyrus Saul Cct.

Concerned residents say infant, primary and high school students spend up to about half an hour in the morning on vacant land on one side of the cul de sac, which is located off the Macleay Valley Way.

It is the children’s waiting point for three daily buses that ferry students to various schools, and is also used by other passengers.

Cr Saul enquired of Kempsey Shire Council earlier this year if a bus shelter could be erected.

He was informed it might be possible to install a shelter previously used on North St, West Kempsey, suggesting funding could be obtained, or the local community could undertake a project to construct a concrete slab for it to stand on.

Cr Saul has tabled a motion for today’s monthly meeting calling on the council to apply for funding from the Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme.

“The aim of this motion is to improve the amenity for passengers using the bus transport interchange in Frederickton, as it has been noted that other centres in the shire have had bus shelter upgrades,” he comments in the agenda for the August meeting.

Additional information for the motion by general manager David Rawlings notes a previous grant application was unsuccessful.

He also recommends a review of the current school interchange arrangements before any efforts are made to develop a facility.

“The current arrangements are not ideal from a road and community safety perspective, and further consultation with the bus companies might identify a suitable alternative location,” Mr Rawlings says.

Frederickton resident Ivor Gamlin told The Argus the site was suitable.

“It’s one of the safest spots,” he said.

“There have been no reported accidents in 17 years or so – it has been used as a drop-off point for about the last 10 years.”

Grandmother, Gayle Joyce, agreed and said a shelter was necessary.

“We definitely need one,” she said.

“I’ve seen kids stand waiting for a bus for half an hour.

“There’s normally more than 20 kids standing waiting in the elements every morning.

“Sometimes they shelter under people’s eaves, when it rains.”

Also on the agenda for today’s council meeting are motions from Cr Anthony Patterson, on moving waste collection vehicles away from weak shoulders of roads; and from the deputy mayor Cr Betty Green, on the Kempsey Women’s Refuge.