Reefton set to lose ‘digger school’

Reefton is set to lose its ‘digger school’ and extractives course as Tai Poutini Polytechnic moves it closer to Greymouth.
Chief executive Paul Wilson advised the monthly polytechnic council meeting last week that the Grey District Council had offered a site at the McLeans Pit landfill at “no cost”.
He was close to signing an agreement for the long-term use
of the site, which would be
available to the polytechnic for 10-20 years.
“It’s a win-win situation for them (district council).
“The land is going to be used effectively and they are supporting us,” Mr Wilson said.
Asked if there would be any issues with the blasting component, he said;
“It is a low populated area and I don’t think there will be any issues, however the blasting does not have to be run ion that site.
“There are only nine days of
blasting during the year and at present there is no sign of any issues.”
Moving the digger school out of Reefton was part of the ongoing polytechnic restructuring, but he reassured that “we are not deserting the town”.
Earlier this year Reefton people protested against the suggested move, hanging banners on the fence outside the Reefton campus — the town’s former primary school — saying ‘Save our campus’ and ‘Keep our courses here’.
They were told then that the digger school and extractives course were likely to move to Greymouth by 2011, but were assured they would not lose all their courses.
However, Mr Wilson also said “the long term future of the campus is still up in the air”.