Council approves of Railways plan

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 360, 30 October 1990, Page 1

Council approves of Railways plan

A big step forward was made towards solving Ohakune Junction's unsightly railway land problems when the council met with Railcorp Propefty last Friday.

The company that was formed in the last few months to dispose of surpliis railway land put a proposal to the Ruapehu District Coiincil's Regulatory Committee to subdivide the house sections in Railway Row so they could be sold; to create new residential sections on the south side of Railway Row on land that has been railway yards; and to give council the railway station and the signalman's shed and land for community use. The company sought to have council uplift overlying zone restrictions on the land so the proposal could go ahead, and to negotiate with the council on details of the plan. The company's planning group representative Brent Player said timing was crucial to the company as they wanted to begin selling the old railway houses as soon as possible to prevent their deterioration. The general feeling of the meeting was one of co-operation with the councillors keen to see the scheme go ahead, with some modifications, and the Railcorp Properties representatives happy to negotiate.

Special meeting A special meeting of the council, to be paid for by Railcorp Properties, will be held next week to authorise the change in zones to allow the subdivision application to proceed and in the mean time Railcorp Property's planning consultants, Tse Group Limited, are to modify the plans as a result of the discussions on FriTurnpage 5

Council approves of rail plans

The main alteration to the plans submitted will be the change of a large reserve area next to Railway Row on the east end of the yards. The committee felt there was no need for such a large area of reserve and that it would in fact be a burden on council rather than an asset. This area will become nine more residential sections, with a small area set aside for Railways workshops and depot as well as access to a loading platform. The Railways building on the opposite side of the tracks is to be vested in council ownership to be used by the Preservation Of Railways Society (PORS) as a rail museum. The sheds next to Railway Row were offered to the group for this use but it was decided this was not suitable as it could encourage people to cross the railway tracks on foot. The PORS group would be allowed to use land next to the museum building for a static display of railways rolling stock, but the piece of track would remain as Railways property. This would be so access to other properties further east could be maintained. Commercial land A new lot next to the railway station which the company planned to sell as a tourist development site is to be given to the council along with the station and land. This lot includes the present vehicle access to the station. A large, 3600 square metre lot on Thames Street opposite Turoa Lodge is to be offered for sale as tourist development land. At present it has a railways use designation with an underlying tourist development zone designation. There was some discussion at the meeting over whether this land could be the company's reserve contribution but the meeting heard that the land was too valuable. A question yet to be resolved is whether Railway Row remain a

through road or if it should become a cul de sac. The meeting heard that the street is presently used by a number of people as access to Soldiers' Road and Upper Thames Street. Railcorp Property representative Robert Linteman said those people were in effect trespassing at present. On inspection of the site councillors were satisfied that there was adequate width for the street to be a through road if that was found to be desirable. There had been concern that one of the Railways block buildings could cause roading problems. One source of amusement for those at the meeting was the request for the return to Railways of a small section of council land which sits squarely on the North Island Main Trunk Line, under where the old Upper Thames Street bridge used to be. Some members jested that the land could be retained by council and a toll gate set ud!