By JASON COLLIE
A West Auckland railway station car park is getting a facelift courtesy of Infrastructure Auckland's $1 billion cash box - much to the delight of local people sick of getting wet shoes.
The Swanson station will get $205,000 from funds earmarked to fix Auckland's transport and stormwater woes, part of $1.68 million handed out yesterday in the first wave of grants from the funding body.
It hopes the cash, besides improving the station, will lead to more commuters using the western railway corridor.
Swanson people were jubilant and said it was the final part of their five-year, $800,000 project, which included re-siting the derelict Avondale Railway Station building.
The Swanson community had already raised $500,000 for the overall project and owned the 9500 sq m site the railway station now sits on.
Meredith Youngson, secretary of the Swanson Residents and Ratepayers Association, said she hoped the refurbished station would attract day visitors out to Swanson when it was opened as a community room and cafe, as well as increase commuter use of the railway.
"The car park area is really rough," Mrs Youngson said. "I didn't know how much car parks cost at first, but having gone through council procedures, that's how much things do cost.
"We are not wasting money."
Queen St commuter Andrew Fong said: "A better car park would be great. Wet shoes and a dirty car are some of the present drawbacks and a third of the car park is unusable because of deep holes and mess."
Michelle O'Neill said catching the train to work meant a lot of walking, which could be greatly reduced if Swanson station had somewhere "less scruffy" and safer to leave her car.
Other grants included more than $335,000 for canopies over Fuller's commuter terminals at central Auckland and Half Moon Bay, $288,000 to give waiting bus passengers up-to-date information about The Link service in central Auckland, $187,200 to clean up the Puhinui Stream in Manukau City and $161,644 to upgrade Te Koiwi Pond in Papakura.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Budget 2024 preview: Can the Government deliver on its pledges?
On the Tiles previews the Budget that's only 20 days away now.