Worried residents clamour to have a say on Palmerston North rail centre

Thursday, 20 February 2020

KiwiRail is looking for sites for its planned rail and road freight centre near Palmerston North.

About 300 people likely to be neighbours of KiwiRail's planned new freight centre on the outskirts of Palmerston North have swamped an information meeting at Bunnythorpe this week.

Some of them could be forced to sell their properties once KiwiRail designates a site for the development, while others could be affected by the increased road and rail traffic and activity.

KiwiRail's general manager for investment and capital transactions Olivia Poulsen said the 100-hectare-plus centre would be built somewhere along the railway, between the airport and Bunnythorpe, or beyond the village toward Feilding.

But many of those attending the sessions left frustrated they still did not know the exact location and would not be invited to comment on options.

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Poulsen said the Longburn area had been ruled out because the connections were not so good, there was potential for flooding, and the area was signalled for urban development.

'As soon as we identify the site, by the end of March, we will go back to the community,' she said.

'I understand it can be hard for people living close by, but we will be focusing on what we can do for them and on the great economic growth story this is, with a lot of freight and money coming into the region.'

It was expected to attract $2 billion to $4b of investment from KiwiRail and other freight, logistics and distribution operators.

Land on Tremaine Ave used for freight handling would be released for other uses.

Zaneta Park, who lives some distance from Bunnythorpe, said KiwiRail should consult people before it chose the site.

KiwiRail has a master plan for its new freight centre and is looking for land outside Palmerston North.

'The rail hub will run 24-7, so constant lights and noise literally all day long.

'There is lots of worry about whether those who will be required to sell their properties will be able to buy elsewhere even if they get market value and about the impact on house prices for those indirectly impacted.'

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said the meeting was 'just fluff'. No questions were answered.

'Even if we don't get bought out, there would be consequences.

'My life would be a living hell.'

She said there was lots of speculation in the community because no-one knew anything.

'Basically, they are pretending they don't know where it is going and the public deserve to know.'

Poulsen said KiwiRail hoped it would be able to make life better for people living in Bunnythorpe. 'We will be looking at how best to mitigate the light and noise and vibration.'

She said the road planning for routes in and out of the centre would aim to avoid directing heavy traffic through the village.

Planning for the rail centre was off to a flying start last year thanks to a $40 million injection from the Provincial Growth Fund.

A site is expected to be announced at the end of March, when KiwiRail would hold further meetings in the community.

In the middle of the year it would issue a notice of requirement to designate the land it needed, which would trigger a formal call for public submissions and a hearing.