Workers wanted to tidy Waiouru's landscape 'blot'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 587, 23 May 1995, Page 1

Workers wanted to tidy Waiouru's landscape 'blot'

By

Michele

Monaghan

The Waiouru Railway Restoration group is holding a working bee this Saturday (Sunday if wet) and volunteers are desperately needed. Co-ordinator Lyn Lumsden told the Bulletin it is time to get something moving. "Everyone who is keen moves on," despaired Lyn. She said the working bee will start at 9.30am and will involve a general tidy up in preparation for water blasting, painting and insulation from the weather. Eventually the group hope to attract a permanent caretaker to live at the station — someone to turn lights on and open up the waiting room when a train is approaching. "There's quite a bit of living space along with a kitchen," Lyn said. At the moment passengers waiting for the night train wait in the dark. The wind whistles through the waiting room as there is no glass in the windows. Most people wait in their cars or on the platform. A light comes on when a train is approaching, but if the train is late the wait is a dark, dingy, unpleasant one. The station group want to do something about it and have done for the past two and a

half years. A Bulletin article dated 15 December 1992 highlighted the enthusiasm of the group and their intentions. The bulk of these volunteers along with their enthusiasm have now moved on leaving three people with a lot of work. "It's tOo big a project to have volunteers all the time," said Lyn. What is needed is a permanent resident to take the project on, she said. The project may be big, but Lyn is still keen on doing what she can. A safety officers' course has to be completed because of the live wires and the group have continued to regularly visit the station to pick up rubbish. Funding Built around 1940, the station does not qualify as an historic building, but Lyn said she will be applying to various organisations for funding. New Zealand Rail have indicated a willingness tto help by pledging around $2500 once some work has been done and the group have $ 1 400 in the bank raised by selling satays. Lyn urges interested people to go to the working bee so the well-used station can again provide a service as opposed to being a blot on the landscape.