Letters: Just hang in there

The BOI Vintage Railway Trust's proposal to rebuild at the Triangle should receive the highest priority, says a reader.

Re: A process designed to frustrate (June 13).

The Kawakawa-Opua railway is of historical significance. In 1871 a railway from the Kawakawa coal mines to One Tree Point was proposed under the Railways Act. The line was operational by April 7, 1884.

The decline of the Kawakawa coal industry from 1889 led to a downturn in port activities, so the government indicated its intention to remove the railway line from Opua to Kawakawa. Protest meetings were held, and one stormy meeting at Opua, attended by the Right Honourable Richard Seddon, ended in "fisticuffs" - but the line remained.

February 13, 1980, was Black Friday at Opua. Against strong opposition from the Bay of Islands District, the Railways Department closed the Opua station and threatened to remove the lines. Locals rallied and directed considerable flak at the department. The line remained.

It was leased to the BOI Vintage Railway in 1985.

When Sir Brian Elwood's "vision of local government" changed the Northland Harbour Board to form the NRC and FNDC, Far North Maritime was created to develop marina facilities, in 1999. Once again locals learned of the intention of FNM to lift the lines.

Vehement objections from locals altered their plans and locals were placated by a large building erected as an authentic-looking railway station, complete with platform and toilets. (Look over the bank just past the milk powder store.)

The industrial area then covered the rail lines from Ashby's.

The least Far North Holdings (previously FNM) could do was to gift land at the Colenso Triangle for a rail terminal. In my opinion they had a moral obligation to build it.

The BOI Vintage Railway Trust's proposal to rebuild at the Triangle should receive the highest priority. Perhaps the National Government could cough up a couple of million bucks. After all, it would be peanuts compared to the $26 million flag debacle, plus forking out multi-millions for a sheep farm in the desert.

Obviously FNDC and NRC planners didn't do their homework regarding the area between the Colenso Triangle and the point. There never was any historical wetlands, just a tatty swamp that not even pukeko deign to occupy.

It was unfortunate that it was necessary for the trust to apply for resource consent combined with oyster farmers' application for facilities. The NRC/FNHL should have planned to cater for oyster farmers' needs when they designed the marinas.

The BOI Vintage Railway Trust's praiseworthy endeavours to make their project a reality merits district-wide support. What a unique tourism attraction - where else in the world could one find a similar tour?

Ride a train beside an isolated winding river, through a tunnel, over bridges, then board a steam boat, cross the Bay, then wind up another river to Kerikeri.

Commendations are due to the dedicated, hard-working trustees and volunteers hanging in there to make this happen. They don't deserve hang-ups.

MYRA LARCOMBE
Opua