KEY POINTS:
The next step towards a long-awaited rail link to Marsden Pt has started, with submissions opening on a planned joint venture between Northland Regional Council and rail company Ontrack to secure land for the rail corridor.
Last month the council and Ontrack announced they would set up a joint venture to buy the land for the track. Regional council chairman Mark Farnsworth said the partnership would share the costs of acquiring land for the 16km-long rail link.
The possibility of a rail spur to Marsden Pt, which boasts the region's deepwater port, has been discussed for more than 30 years, but only this year have things progressed.
In March, the regional council committed $1 million to start a designation process for the line.
The council is now asking the public for its views on the joint venture proposal. Ontrack hopes to formally designate the land within the next few months.
But Mr Farnsworth said a longer-than-usual consultation period on the issue would run until February next year.
A full statement of proposal can be found on www.nrc.govt.nz/jointventure, from any regional council office, or phone 0800 002 004 to obtain one.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
