Bus barns at Kilbirnie to be rebuilt
KILBIRNIE’S ageing bus barns will be replaced but forget previous plans for them to be converted into an accommodation and shopping precinct – they will remain strictly for buses.
And a new Thorndon depot at the bottom of Wellington’s Ngauranga Gorge is also on the cards under a blueprint unveiled last night.
NZ Bus chief executive Zane Fulljames said plans to redevelop the Kilbirnie bus barns were close to being finalised.
Resource consents were yet to be obtained but work on the $20 million to $30m project was expected to start in 2016.
‘‘It is an aged facility, it is very difficult to operate out of there logistically, and it is an environment . . . which could benefit from a significant upgrade.’’
The 100-year-old barns struggle to accommodate 220 of Go Wellington’s 240-strong fleet. The redevelopment would include a flexible layout to free up the movement of buses within the site.
At present the front row of buses have to be moved each morning so the remaining vehicles can get on the road.
This improved flexibility was expected to translate to more reliable bus services and to alleviate peak evening road congestion outside the depot, Fulljames said.
Wellington City Council had proposed turning the bus barns into a residential, office, retail and aged care development, as part of its Kilbirnie town centre revitalisation plan adopted in 2010.
Initial concept plans were prepared by site owner Infratil.
Fulljames said a search for a suitable alternative site was undertaken over a long period of time. ‘‘It was an extensive search throughout Wellington ... It was devoid of options ... Kilbirnie seems to be the best option for us.’’
However, NZ Bus has bought land at the bottom of Ngauranga Gorge for a new Thorndon depot.
Infratil expansion