Ohakune-Horopito railway deviation — Commission for the environment releases report

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 10, 7 August 1984, Page 3

Ohakune-Horopito railway deviation — Commission for the environment releases report

The Wellington-based Commission for the Environment last week released its environmental appraisal pf the Railways Corporation's proposed Ohakune-Horopito deviation of the Main Trunk Line. The Commission assessed 12 submissions to Railways' own environmental impact assessment report on its planned re-routing of the Line to meet the demands of its Main Trunk electrification scheme. The route between Ohakune and Horopito is to be upgraded to cope with the increased loadings of electric locomotives. The proposed work, along eight kilometres of track, means scrapping the Hapuawhenua and Taonui viaducts, and realigning the route through part of Tongariro National Park. Railways outlined the deviation proposal at a public seminar in Ohakune in May 1983 before producing its environmental impact assessment in March 1984. The Commission for the Environment 's report- last week examined public submissions to Railway's assessment, and that assessment itself. "It is most signifcant that no organisation or individual actually opposes the deviation and electrification proposal," the Commission said.

But two local farmers are not entirely happy about the deviation. Railways' proposed alignment runs across two farms owned by Mr Chris Berry and his father, Cyril (Nick). The Corporation wants to buy a 'narrow corridor' of their land within which to build the track. On Mr C.R. (Cyril) Berry's property Railways sees the encroachment as 'minor'and says it would not "significantly affect the economic or operational viability of the block of land as a farming unit." The corridor would, however, sever the block owned by Mr C.J. (Chris) Berry, isolating a 48ha section from the remaining 64ha. Again, on the condition that access between the two sections was provided, Railways saw the productivity and economic viability of the farming operation as "not significantly affected." Chris Berry disagreed. In his submission to Railways' environmental impa'ct assessment he contended the effect on his land would not be "minor". "With a railway line through the middle of it, the acceptability of this farm as a saleable unit is ruined." He also pointed out that the two farms were being run in conjunction, requiring some accessway near the

boundary fence between the farms. The Berrys met with Railways staff last week and have a further meeting in a fortnight. Chris Berry refused to discuss the outcome of last week's meeting, saying he would "wait and see" what happened at the next meeting. Railways had taken away several suggestions from the farmers. "It depends on what they come back with," he said. The Commission's report contained good news for tourism at Ohakune. Six of the submissions to Railways wanted the Hapuawhenua and/or Taonui viaducts retained and integrated into a walkway along with disused sections of the line and the Old Coach Road. And the Commission for the Environment agreed. The Commission wanted the feasibility of a combination cycleway/ walkway examined, "as this would add to the recreational and tourist interest." The Hapuawhenua viaduct was particularly worth preserving and incorporating into such a route, as it was close to Ohakune and the most accessible for Park interpretation programmes, the Commission said. "Establishment of a combined cycle track and walkway is an ideal opportunity for environmental enhancement and a necessary part of the costs and benefits of the deviation proposal." The Commission suggested Railways should support the move and hire out bicycles from Ohakune Station as is done by French Railways. Overall the Commission was very complimentary of Railways' approach. Railways' planning exercise had been very successful, the report said. "The end result may be

one of the rare environmental -economic-technical optimums that should be the aim of all environmental assessment processes." The Commission noted some questions and decisions on route options were still outstanding, and some environmentally preferred options had not been accepted. NZRC should prepare information for the public on financial costs of various engineering options, so people could understand why environmentally preferred options had not been accepted. And the Corporation could convene a second seminar to explain the reasons for accepting or rejecting recommendations made in submissions, the Commission said. The Commission praised Railways for accepting advice on botanically important vegetation and realigning the route accordingly. It suggested that Railways continue to involve personnel from Lands and Survey and the Park Board, the Wildlife Service and the DSIR. Talks should also be held with Maori tribal leaders on the use of suitable trees logged during the work on the deviation. These could be carved locally for marae uses, local body premises or decorative features in Park Board buildings, the Commission said. National Park rangers should have authority over potentially destructive construction and restoration work, "so that damage to Park values can be further minimised," the report continued. "The alignment finally chosen must be acceptable to the Tongariro/Taupo National Parks and Reserves Board, and the Department of Lands and Survey."