Trains lock traffic, some say
A train coming through Hamilton East can cause traffic gridlock at peak times, residents say. So, with the Ruakura inland port on the way - and extra rail freight likely - Waikato Regional Council hopefuls were asked what they would do about it. The question came up at a candidate evening organised by the Hamilton East Community Trust and held at Knox Church on Thursday. Traffic backing up as trains pass is a familiar experience in Hamilton East, so one attendee wanted to know that councillors could do to ease the pain.
‘‘[A passing train] literally shuts Hamilton East down at certain parts of the day,’’ an audience member said.
‘‘If we have another 50,000 tonnes of freight going though our rail system, that’s going to affect Hamilton East really severely.’’
Waikato Regional Councillor Lois Livingston hadn’t considered that, though she has sat in queues of traffic herself.
She encouraged the questioner to get the word out by submitting to council through the annual plan process, for example.
That was backed up by candidate Guy Sowry, who said sometimes drivers waited for ‘‘what feels like hours’’.
Meeting-goers also wanted to gauge council support for city heritage, especially with pending demolitions in their neighbourhoods.
The upcoming demolitions were tragic, East Ward candidate Nick Johnston said, and historic buildings need more protection under the district plan.
Allan Halse said Hamilton had to hang on to everything it had.
And Community Voice candidate Anna Casey-Cox said more could be made of Maori history, which is ‘‘a bit hidden’’.
But it was Gielen who faced the most challenging audience question, and the one with the most preamble.
‘‘What will it take... for you to stop running for councillor and mayor and wasting all of our time?’’ a woman in the audience asked.
Gielen said he fronted up, was honest, and exposed corruption, and asked whether she really wanted him to give up.
‘‘I knew you wouldn’t. I knew you would rise to the question,’’ the woman responded.