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The ACT government will spend $2 million in next month's budget encouraging kids to walk or ride to school. The Active Streets for Schools and Ride or Walk to School programs will be expanded, while a dedicated Schools Transport Co-ordinator will be introduced and an Active Travel Officer will be included in the new Transport Canberra agency. "We need to make riding and walking to school the norm in Canberra again," Transport and Municipal Services Minister Meegan Fitzharris said. The government will invest $1 million in the Active Streets for Schools program to make it easier and safer for children to ride or walk to school. Funding will go towards upgrades for footpaths, and bike paths and signage to make school routes clear. "Parents [will] know they can drop off their child a couple of blocks away, and the walk will take five or 10 minutes. It's a great initiative and one I know schools are really excited about," Ms Fitzharris said. "Not only will this get kids active, but it will give parents peace of mind that the route to school is safe and easy to follow. It is also a fun way to get to and from school, and helps alleviate some of the traffic congestion created by parents dropping kids off at the school gate." Active Streets for Schools is already working in Macquarie, Macgregor, Latham and Mount Rogers primary schools. It will be expanded to include: Ainslie School, Amaroo School and Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School, Aranda Primary School and St Vincent's Primary School, Calwell Primary School, Caroline Chisholm Primary School, Chapman Primary School, Charnwood‑Dunlop School, Curtin Primary School and Holy Trinity Primary School, Evatt Primary School, Garran Primary School, Harrison School and Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School, Hughes Primary School, Lyneham Primary School and Brindabella Christian College Junior School, Maribyrnong Primary, Melrose High School and Sacred Heart Primary School, Palmerston District Primary School, Richardson Primary School, Telopea Park School, and Wanniassa School. The budget will also see a new Schools Transport Co-ordinator introduced, who will be responsible for liaising with schools on all transport issues for government. "Schools are busy places during drop-off and pick-up times, so having someone dedicated to liaising with schools and parents about transport issues will help to streamline processes and implement solutions," Ms Fitzharris said. The role would also include assisting schools implement a Ride and Walk to School Program under the Healthy Weight Initiative. "This is a great program currently delivered by the Physical Activity Foundation. An investment of $125,000 will enable us to expand it to an additional 56 schools, bringing a total of 108 schools on board. The program makes bikes available to schools for students to use, offers basic bike maintenance lessons, and helps teach children some basic road rules and how to stay safe on the way to and from school." Finally, the Active Travel Office will be provided with a dedicated officer to sit within the new Transport Canberra agency to ensure active travel options are integrated with buses and light rail. Education and Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury said the programs were important in encouraging children to be active and get outdoors, while supporting families to find safe, easy and accessible ways to get to school. "The habits children develop during their formative years largely influence the type of lives they lead as adults, so it is really important that we encourage young people to be healthy and active," Mr Rattenbury said.

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