With the future of the Napier/Gisborne East Coast rail line at stake, an important meeting will be held in Gisborne on the 24th of this month.
Mayors Barbara Arnott of Napier, Lawrence Yule of Hastings and Les Probert of Wairoa District together with Regional Council and Regional Transport Committee Chair, Alan Dick, and HB Chamber of Commerce CEO, Murray Douglas, will represent Hawke’s Bay at a meeting with Mayor Meng Foon of Gisborne District with his Council and representatives of the Gisborne business community.
Importantly, KiwiRail CEO, Jim Quinn, and several of his senior executives will also be present.
The aim will be to reach a common view on the viability today of the rail link and to explore strategies to ensure its short and long term sustainability.
With Government backing, KiwiRail has recently released its “rail turn-around” plan. Together with three other provincial lines Napier/Gisborne will be reviewed by KiwiRail in consultation with its communities and its customers. KiwiRail has warned that unless new anchor customers emerge or can be secured, such lines will be closed or mothballed by 2012.
The Hawke’s Bay Leaders’ Group is unanimous that everything possible must be done to prevent closure of the line, in the light of major freight movement increases predicted for the near future, particularly timber products originating from Gisborne district. Containerised product will be able to be exported through the Port of Napier with a rail link maintained.
Concerns at this end focus on safety and overloading of the Napier to Gisborne highway (SH2) which already carries a high proportion of heavy traffic, the need to maintain choice and competition in land transport modes, and the potential loss of economic development opportunities without the rail option. There is also concern for our Gisborne neighbours who could face increased isolation and limits on their economic opportunities as well. |