Roll out rail network

With the new Government announcing a massive tree-planting programme with reestablishing the NZ Forest Service, to be based in Rotorua, attention needs to be go on expanding the rail network in this region to carry the massive amount of forestry traffic.

A rail line needs to be built into the Rotorua and Taupo regions to serve the many plantation pine forests and two large mills at Waipa and Taupo, to help reduce the high number of heavy logging trucks on the region’s roads.

A line between Kinleith-Rotorua-Taupo would link all these forests, mills and a dairy factory at Reporoa along one line and it could also carry general freight and tourists between Auckland-HamiltonMatamata-Rotorua-Taupo to ease traffic volumes on State Highways 1 and 5.

A line to Taupo would also have the potential to be electrified, powered by the many renewable geothermal power stations recently built in this region, helping the Government achieve its goal of reducing net carbon emissions to zero.

Isaac Broome, Pukekohe.