Pleading for an underpass are (from left) Clyde School principal Doug White, and pupils Amy Hislop, Finlay Russel and Zoe Hislop. Photo by Lynda Van Kempen.
A passionate plea yesterday from possibly the youngest submitters to face up to the Central Otago District Council spurred the council to support a proposed Clyde underpass.
''This council really wants to get this done, so how can we make it happen,'' Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper asked during the draft annual plan hearings.
Although an underpass beneath State Highway 8 at Clyde was mooted a decade ago, the idea had gained momentum recently as a way of ensuring growing numbers of walkers and cyclists crossing the road had safe passage, he said.
''There's been a real surge from the community this time ... we've been waiting for that.''
Of the 115 submissions to the draft plan, 23 were on the proposed underpass, all in support, and one contained 723 signatures. T
he project was not ranked as ''high priority'' by the New Zealand Transport Agency, but the council resolved to make it a priority on the council's minor improvement works programme.
The underpass would attract a subsidy of 60% from the agency.
Council roading manager Julie Muir did not believe the NZTA would turn down the council's request.
The project was estimated to cost up to $300,000 and the maximum figure for the council's minor improvement works was $250,000, council assets manager Jon Kingsford said.
The council agreed to get the project under way and then look at ways to fund the shortfall.
Clyde School has long been a proponent of the underpass and the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust also supports it.
Clyde School pupils twins Amy and Zoe Hislop and Finlay Russel (all 12), accompanied by principal Doug White, spoke to the council yesterday.
Amy said it was difficult to visit friends in Clyde if they had to cross the highway.
A lot of Clyde pupils lived in Springvale and they would like to bike to school, but it was too dangerous for most to cross the road, Zoe said.
