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Save rail rally has message for MPs
Saturday, September 01, 2012 • Debbie Gregory
A FINAL desperate public plea has been to the Government to fix the stricken Gisborne to Napier rail line.

Yesterday about 100 people rallied in protest outside Gisborne MP Anne Tolley’s office after a petition with 10,000 signatures was sidelined and a KiwRail report mooted the line be permanently closed from Wairoa to Gisborne.

The line to Napier was closed after a big storm took out the line near Beach Loop in March.

Mrs Tolley was criticised for her absence.

Gisborne councillor and railway campaigner Manu Caddie said he knew a book called Where’s Wally?

“But I am beginning to wonder, where’s Tolley?”

Mrs Tolley said this week she had “long-standing commitments” in Whakatane.

Mr Caddie said the regions were being abandoned by the Government and he called for KiwiRail to explain how it came to the decision to “mothball” the line.

“Make no mistake, mothballing is not a temporary arrangement. Look what happened in the Bay of Plenty when the line was mothballed — it doesn’t take long to deteriorate to a point where it’s unsalvageable.”

Hard on the heels of provincial roading cuts, this Government was clearly abandoning the regions, he said.

His grandfather worked on the railway line in the 1940s and 21 people died while building the section between Wairoa and Gisborne.

“The Government this week passed legislation that will cost $85m to underground a short piece of Wellington motorway so the national war memorial can have more space — our railway line is the memorial for the 20 men and one woman who gave their lives for it and we may be the generation that abandons their work.”

KiwiRail needed to provide the council with a copy of the full business case that led to the decision to close the Napier to Gisborne railway line, Mr Caddie said.

Federated Farmers, Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce, forest owners and transport operators had all said it was essential to keep the line open.

Mayor Meng Foon said he had been joined by leaders in Wairoa and Hawke’s Bay to call for the $4 million repair.

“We are all in behind this asking the Government to fix the damned line — it’s not damned yet.”

Home from a trip overseas, Mr Foon said rail was used extensively everywhere he went.

“Actually they are building more rail. It is a shame in New Zealand we can’t share that vision the rest of the world has. Fuel costs are up, roads are congested and there is the safety aspect — rail is the answer.”

“We want to pay our taxes for something we want — for rail. Let’s keep the pressure on.”

Deputy Mayor Nona Aston said the district needed the rail for the community to grow.

“The Government say they are looking after us but they are taking everything away. It should stop being blind to the provinces – we have to feed the cities and the way they keep growing there will be no room to grow food – we want to work and we have the people.”

Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said the Green Party had long been champions of the rail.

“There is great economic opportunity for the country and Gisborne in that line.

“The investment to fix it would bring much greater benefits than is needed to be put in.”

Ms Genter said the cash allocated to Gisborne in the new national land transport programme was less than what was paid in taxes by people here for roading.

“You are not getting your fair share but don’t give up.”

NZ First transport spokesman Brendon Horan asked the whereabouts of Mrs Tolley.

“She should be here. She is a Government minister. Either she does not have enough weight to get a 10,000-signature petition before a select committee or she is not trying.”

• Minister of Transport Gerry Brownlee’s press secretary said on Tuesday he hoped a decision on the rail would be made by the end of next week.
DON’T GIVE US THE SLIP: About 100 people gathered for yesterday’s save the rail rally in Gisborne, armed with placards saying “No trains — it’s no vote for Tolley”, “Time for some leadership to save our rail for our kids and the future”, “We are looking at a broken promise — consult with us, listen to us — Give Gisborne a chance,” and “Key decision — fix our rail”. Picture by Dave Thomas
Comments
Peter Jones
05:57 p.m. Sunday, Sep 02, 2012
The sad thing about the rail protest was the public apathy.
The protesters, myself included, looked like a bunch of misfits in a way.
Old people and people who were generally regarded as social misfits were grossly over represented.
If we were the only ones who cared it says very little for you the beautiful people, doesn't it.
I still expect to receive some votes from you beautiful people next year.
Just because you can't be bothered doesn't mean you are powerless to give your mandate to someone who does.
Glenn Pilkington
09:25 a.m. Monday, Sep 03, 2012
Yes, the Government is being like an ostrich - head in sand mentality - and Meng Foon is right, we need to learn from other countries. Or are our politicians to arrogant for that? We will become like a third world country - even in the likes of India they are putting in more rail. Wake up.
Alan Spinks
03:35 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 03, 2012
I wish to add my support to the campaign to save the Gisborne rail line. Rail is being enhanced in most countries of the world, and overseas visitors increasingly will expect to travel by rail around the country. So it is poor policy to close down a valuable line which could, with a bit of vision, be made into a major tourist attraction.
But my concern is based on a remark on National Radio this morning that there are now over 45 extra truck journeys per day on the road between Gisborne and Napier. Those trucks will not just stop at Napier but they will continue on to Auckland and Wellington, carrying goods that would have continued by rail, thus depriving the rest of the rail network of the revenue from those goods.
And the extra truck will add to the congestion elsewhere in the country. I have observed recently a brand new 40-tonne truck negotiating the Paremata roundabout, a congestion spot near Wellington, carrying the label, "Gisborne to Wellington daily." So the increased congestion is already happening. Our already congested roads are having increased congestion by trucks from Gisborne.
Rail is the most fuel-efficient transport system there is, and increasing its use will make a large contribution to reducing carbon emissions in this country. And how are the logs from the forestry near Gisborne going to be transported when they are ready for harvesting?
Once the line has fallen by neglect into total disrepair it will cost vastly more then $4 million to reinstate it. We need to lobby our MPs continually to force them to take notice. I have made a start with Hekia Parata.

Alan Spinks,
Porirua
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