East coast mayors unite in rail bid

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton. Photo / Glenn Taylor

East Coast mayors have agreed to support Hawke's Bay Regional Council's bid to secure a lease for the defunct Napier-Gisborne railway line.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said "everybody was in the same mind" at yesterday's meeting, called by Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon and hosted by Wairoa Mayor Craig Little in Wairoa. Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule also attended.

"The rail corridor, we believe, is very valuable for the east coast," Mr Dalton said.

The railway line has been gathering dust since it suffered storm damage two-and-a-half years ago. The National Government earlier indicated it would not fund its repair.

The regional council has earmarked $5.5 million to re-establish the railway line as an alternative to freight transport on roads.

Mr Dalton said as the council had already set aside "substantial funding" toward the railway in its Draft Annual Plan, "they were the obvious choice" to secure its future.

Mr Yule said it was also agreed a business case for the railway should be made by June 30, next year.

"We've been debating the railway's future for five or six years and I think June 30, is a good time for finality to be given around that."

Council chairman Fenton Wilson said while the end use of the railway was still being considered, a decision to lease it was "now urgent".

"We all support the process to secure access to the rail corridor, whatever its use, as soon as possible."