Backyard railway homes to be hit up for rent or land

By VICKI WATERHOUSE
The state-owned company that owns the railway tracks around the country has discovered it owns chunks of about 5000 backyards around New Zealand - including the Bay - and now it's demanding rent or its land back.
Ontrack has confirmed that some property owners in the Bay will be affected by the move but would not provide numbers on how many.
Communications adviser Kevin Ramshaw said people in the Western Bay were receiving letters explaining the details of the rent.
"We are currently carrying out a nationwide review to establish the extent of occupation of railway land."
Mr Ramshaw said two options would be given to the affected landowners.
Either they enter into an agreement with Ontrack to occupy the land and pay annual rent, or relocate fences and infrastructure to their legal boundary.
This would be at the landowner's own cost because Ontrack has an exemption from the Fencing Act which normally splits costs 50:50.
Ontrack owns and maintains 4000km of track and the affected landowners will be sent a legal agreement setting an annual rental around $100-$200.
Mr Ramshaw said Ontrack had "taken the view that occupation of railway land by third parties should be documented".
* Are you an affected land owner? Contact the chief reporter (07) 577-3154 or email news@bopp.co.nz