Minister Parata and I visited Welcome Bay School recently to make an announcement that is  outstanding for our region. After being welcomed warmly by the students with a beautiful waiata, a $20.5 million boost for education infrastructure in the Bay of Plenty was announced.

This investment includes a new school in Pyes Pa for 650 students and six new classrooms for three of our great schools: Oropi, Welcome Bay and Maungatapu schools will each benefit from two new classrooms to help them account for their roll growth.

I would like to acknowledge the Welcome Bay School Board of Trustees chair, Jandhe Troughton, and Principal, Nik House, for hosting us for the announcement and for the hard work that they do for our kids.

Poike road overbridge on the way

In my last column I talked about the Poike road overbridge that had been announced, and it was fantastic to break ground for the project recently.

The long-term goal of the overbridge is to link key centres, schools and areas of employment with a network of shared paths to make it safer and easier for people to walk and bike around the region.

I have been advocating for this project to respond to the increased traffic on State Highway 29A. The overbridge, coupled with the shared path, will open up a range of opportunities and contribute to a more environmentally sustainable future for our fast growing region’s transport network.

Here to listen

I have clinics at the Welcome Bay Community Centre from 1-4 pm every third Monday of  the  month. If  there is anything that me or my office can help with, come down on 15 August, 19 September or 17 October.

By Todd Muller, MP for Bay of Plenty

I write for this magazine because it allows me to connect with our community and keep up to date with all the fantastic things that are going on.