CROWDED WELLINGTON

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1929, Page 2

CROWDED WELLINGTON

FEARS ABOUT NEW RAILWAY STATION.

WELLINGTON, Sofa. 10.

The Mayor of Wellington has sent la letter to tile Minister for Railways in connexion with Wellington’s proposed new station, in the course of which he states:—

“Many statements have appeared in the Press associated with the name of the Mayor of Wellington regarding "Wellington’s new station buildings and yards, and as .these have been more or less ambiguous, I now commit the matter to writing*. There can then he no misunderstanding. In the first place, I may* point out that it is far from my mind to entbarass either yourself or your officers in what I know is a very difficult problem, viz., the lay-out of a modern railway station. This great undertaking, once completed, cannot be undone. ' , >

“The question that I ask you to specially consider is the large one of policy seriously affecting the future • of the City of Wellington, viz., whether in view of the extraordinary small 'area of flat land available m the city; (465 acres)j it is wise to utilise so large an area (110 acres) for railway <,yards. Afid , this question must be considered not in the light of conditions obtaining at present, but in view of the conditions that •" will obtain at least 50 years hence.

“To make provision for warehouse and business sites, during the past 50 years 183 acres .of land have been reclaimed from the harbour, apart from railway reclamations (110 acres). Now, if all this.'additional area lias, been required to provide for an additional population of 84,000 during the past 50 years, where is the city to find the warehouses and business areas to provide for the additional population of 200,OOQ ( which can be anticipated during the next 50 years? I therefore raise the" question .whether it is wise or expedient, in view of the shortage of flat' land, to., occupy in'* the very .centre of the pity - ,, 116 acres with railway (station .yards, that being the area contained in the new. passenger and goods -yards. as . laid out. The suggestion I offer is that thb Railway Department provide only for a passenger yar ( d, and sufficient goods shed accommodation to meet local requirements at .-Welling- 1 ton, and construct the main • goods add marshalling ( yard by : mean? y.bf a reclamation at the junction of the Hiitt road with the Petone beach. If this were done 40 acres would " probably suffice for ; the Wellington passenger yard and goods sheds and sidings, leaving 70 acres for the Railway Department to lease for warehouse .and, business premises, .And may I ’say 'li’efe'"that’ll "do hot'suggest that the new station building should he located at Davis - street, as has been stated'. I see no reason why it should not be located either at Bunny street or at the end of Lambton quay,where the -present Lambton station is; preferably the latter. For reasons ’ of city transport may . I point out that rarely in any station yards in the large cities of Great Britain. Europe, or America, - are the. goods yards , and the passenger yards contiguous. ’ They are' usually separate., the yard being in the centra .of the city, and the goods or marshalling yard often many miles away.’"’ . Ilf , •' . ( >