A great new picnic table has been installed at the layby on the way to the Catlins, just outside of Balclutha.

The initiative was the brainchild of the Catlins Coast, who kindly funded all the materials for the project. The picnic table was built in 2024 by Alex Napier and Blake Affleck, under the guidance of our technology teacher at the time, Matthew Simpson, and was installed a few months ago. It’s a great reminder that good things take time — the care and effort that went into this project have really paid off.

The table now sits proudly at the layby beside the Catlins map, where it was installed with the help of our caretaker Russell Ibbotson. The council has shared very positive feedback about how great it looks and how well it complements the area.

It’s always inspiring to see what can be achieved when people work together to create something lasting for the community. A big thank you to Rachel Napier and Hilary McNab from the the Catlins Coast for initiating this project and seeing it to completion and especially for giving our students the chance to be part of it.

Next time you’re heading towards the Catlins, make sure to stop in at the layby, have a look, and enjoy the new picnic table!