Residents preparing for second battle against rail plans

The Mainline Steam Trust's desire to shift from its Parnell depot to West Auckland is being opposed by a residents' group with a successful record in railway battles.

Last year, a proposal for a suburban train stable at Paremuka was defeated by the Western Heights Residents and Ratepayers Association.

With the help of MP Paula Bennett, they shunted the Auckland Regional Transport Authority's plans up the line to a proxy site on Bruce McLaren Dr in Henderson.

"We spent seven months fighting that and now, five months later, along comes the trust with a plan for its depot - in the same place," said association chairman David Hallett.

"We don't want any rail-based operations in the middle of a residential area.

"We are not against Mainline Steam Trust, their enthusiasm and their endeavours.

"But the trust are naive. I mean, telling us how lovely it is to shine the conrods of a Thomas the Tank Engine. Great. But not at the expense of upsetting the local community."

Mr Hallett said Ms Bennett - now a Cabinet minister - was taking up the case as she did when 700 residents signed a petition against the authority's plan.

The association demanded that KiwiRail hold a public meeting to explain why it is making the Paremuka site available.

Mr Hallett said subsidiary Ontrack had assured them in October the site would be returned to industrial use.

Mainline Steam Trust spokesman Michael Tolich said KiwiRail was encouraging the trust to leave the old locomotive shed near the Auckland Domain, where it had been for 20 years.

"It's a valuable site for them and it's getting too expensive for us to stay here."

Mr Tolich said the trust's proposal would affect its neighborhood much less than would authority stable project.

"That would have been stabling for 11 to 12 trains, with maintenance and cleaning facilities, a 24-hour operation with up to 60 staff on site and diesel engines idling all night.

"Our development is half the size and it won't be used full time."

Mr Tolich said the proposed depot was for designated rail corridor land.

Maintenance noise would be contained in a shed 70m long and 30m wide, served by four tracks.

The nearest housing would be 120m to 140m away.

The trust's income came from organising and operating tours. Western Heights is in the areas of the Massey and Henderson community boards, which are calling for a full report on the proposal and any effects it may have.