Rail spending ‘a significant boost’
Northland Inc’s acting CEO, Vaughan Cooper, welcomed last week’s announcement that the Government would invest in the maintenance and improvement of the region’s rail line as a “significant boost” for the region’s economy.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced the $94.8 million investment, through the Provincial Growth Fund, at the Helensville railway station.
“It is imperative that we keep upgrading our infrastructure, and the work on the North Auckland line will undoubtedly make Northland a more reliable, more connected region for our community,” Mr Cooper said.
“It is vital that we also take steps to address our overreliance on roads in Northland, and reduce congestion and lower emissions. This investment is a significant boost, and ensures that rail remains a viable option within the region, while improving our connections with the rest of New Zealand.”
With more than 90 per cent of freight in Northland currently transported by road, he believed the investment in rail would go a long way to substantially redressing the disparity, with positive and far-reaching benefits for the region.
The investment would include replacing and upgrading some 54km of the 181km line, much of which was at least 100 years old, replacing thousands of sleepers and the addition of 50,000 cubic metres of ballast, replacing five ageing wooden bridges with concrete structures, strengthening tunnels with steel ribs, clearing drains and culverts, and widening nine embankments.
Mr Jones also highlighted direct benefits for the local economy.
“Not only does it set the right conditions for KiwiRail to grow its freight business, but wherever possible it will be using Northland-based contractors to carry out work. It will look to Northland first if they recruit more track staff, as well sourcing materials in Northland,” he said.
“The initiative will see millions of dollars being injected into Northland, helping to stimulate the region’s growth. I’m proud that PGF funding has been able to make this happen.”
The improvement of transport infrastructure and services was identified as a key priority in the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan.
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters said that without the investment the line would likely have been closed within five years, effectively leaving Northland cut off from the rest of the country.
“That’s unacceptable, and unfair to the people of Northland,” he said.
Friday’s announcement did not include mention of a broader $1.3 billion plan for an upgrade of rail linking Auckland to Marsden Pt, which the Ministry of Transport said was a precondition of Northport becoming a major, inter-regional container port. A study by the ministry found while the economic benefits of that plan would be “marginal”, rail in the area needed large-scale investment to avoid becoming unsafe, and that an expansion could generate significantly more freight demand in the region.
Northport Ltd welcomed the announcement. “This is a red letter day for Northland, and an important step towards an integrated transport strategy that will enable the region to maximise its full potential,” chief executive Jon Moore said.