All aboard the fun run

MAKING WAVES: Fun runners made their point by crossing the Orewa Estuary by boat and watching other runners use the bridge with impunity.

Monday Nighta fun run organisers are not about to stop fighting what they see as council and transport agency bureaucratic obstruction to good healthy fun.

A controversy has arisen over the group being effectively blocked from continuing to use the bridge at the south end of Orewa because of safety concerns.

The Monday Nightas say the Rodney District Council has changed the rules from requirements for a sign, to a sign and cones, to a sign and cones and an assistant in a reflective vest, which makes the crossover of the bridge on a footpath a major and expensive production.

"In fact, the group has grown over the past few weeks with all the publicity, so I hope that the council and co will now make an effort to contact me with a resolution," says organiser Laraine Chase.

The fun run group attracts all ages and stages and walkers which can quickly straggle over a kilometre or more.

It seldom bunches intensively or causes traffic problems, say participants.

Runners made the point last Monday by crossing the Orewa Estuary by boat.

"It’s so ridiculous that we had to go to this extreme to make a point, and even more silly was the fact that we watched numerous members of the public running across the bridge while we were in the estuary under the bridge," says Mrs Chase.

"It was actually loads of fun in the end, but time consuming as we had 75 competitors. Thanks to Laurie Gilbert and his mate who volunteered their boats, equipment and time," says Mrs Chase.

"We managed to transfer everyone across and back safely. We got lots and lots of toots and waves from passersby, with supporters stopping to ask what was going on.

Mrs Chase thinks the council and the New Zealand Transport Agency, which is responsible for the highway through contractors Transfield, either "make the bridge safe by putting up permanent barriers on either side or stop every single person from running across it, including other running groups, the school and even the lifeguards who run across it for training.

"In fact, if even our walkers can’t use it maybe they should stop everyone from using it," she says.

The Monday Nightas will be walking in the Orewa New World Santa Parade on Saturday and invite anyone keen to walk with them to promote fitness and freedom to meet at noon in the carpark beside the Edge-
water Motel in Orewa.

For information visit www.themondaynighta.com or call Laraine on 427-9321 or 0210-730-989.

- © Fairfax NZ News