Road safety campaign launch at fun day

Reporoa's community family fun day will start off the district council's new rural road safety campaign.

The Rotorua District Council's road safety co-ordinator Jodie Lawson said the council's ongoing road safety campaign was expanding to add a new focus on the district's rural roads.

She said new road safety billboards, featuring the character Ruru the Morepork wearing gumboots and farming gear, were being installed along country roads and road safety messages would be a feature of Rotorua's Rural Community Safety Day at the Reporoa Domain tomorrow.

Ms Lawson said the district's rural roads had an unacceptably high crash rate and motorists in country communities needed to be more aware of the dangers.

"We want to get the message across that road safety is everybody's responsibility, especially as we enter into the Christmas and holiday season and we want to encourage extra care and attention on rural roads," she said.

The new billboards are going up around the Reporoa and Waikite areas. The "Rural Ruru" character will also feature at the Rural Community Safety Day tomorrow.

Events such as the Reporoa Tractor Pull and the Bay of Plenty District Finals of the ANZ Young Farmer contest are sure to attract the crowds. "There's also heaps on the programme for kids, including pony rides, puppets, face painting, go-kart rides, magic carpet, competitions and Santa is expected to make an appearance too," Ms Lawson said.

The Rural Community Safety Day is on from 9am to 4pm at Reporoa Domain on East Rd.

Entry is by gold coin with proceeds going to the BayTrust Rescue Helicopter.