Wetland v railway focus of Opua consent hearing

Artist's impression of the planned railway station at Opua. Photo / Supplied

A railway or a banded rail?

A resource consent application under way in Opua is shaping up to be a contest between a new station for the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway and a wetland which may be home to rare birds such as the banded rail.

The railway trust has applied for consent to build a station near Opua which would serve as the terminus of a re-opened rail line from Kawakawa. If it goes ahead as planned it would include an events room, a cafe, bike hire shop, water tower and a turntable for turning locomotives around.

At the same time a group of oyster farmers are applying for consent to build a new barge dock in the same area, known as Colenso Triangle, to replace the facilities they lost due to the expansion of Opua Marina.

The resource consent process has proved even more drawn-out and complicated than usual for a big project. Reasons include the bundling of two starkly different projects in one application and the need to fill in at least part of a wetland (for the station) and reclaim an area of seabed (for the barge dock).

A joint Northland Regional Council and Far North District Council resource consent hearing was held over two days in April, with planners from both councils recommending the application be declined.

Reasons included the effects on the area's natural character and ecology, especially if banded rail were present, loss of foot access to the estuary, and a lack of alternative proposals. The regional council report hinted the station's chances of getting a green light would be better if it wasn't combined with the oyster dock project.

Independent commissioner Rob Lieffering invited all parties to tweak their proposals or submit more evidence during another hearing last month.The parties also agreed to "unbundle" the application, which could, for example, allow the station to go ahead even if the barge dock is refused.

The railway trust also put forward two modified proposals.

The first, option 1(a), involved shifting the station by 65m so 40 per cent of the wetland was covered instead of 60 per cent, a reduction of 1200sq m.

The trust said that was a "significant concession" while still allowing for sufficient parking, a roundabout and a dump station for motor homes.

Option 2 would see the station moved entirely off the wetland on to an area now used as a storage depot by Far North Holdings.

However, the trust said that would reduce the number of car parks and require some to be on the other side of the state highway. It would create traffic problems and result in a cramped, ineffective facility, if it could be made to work at all.

Trust spokesman Frank Leadley said at the end of the hearing both council planners indicated they supported option 1(a), which gave him confidence the consent would be granted.

"It's such a significant project for Northland, both economically and historically," he said.

The trust would put in its own predator control programme to address concerns about birdlife.

Paihia man Brad Windust, who represented Forest and Bird at the hearing, said 90 per cent of New Zealand wetlands had been drained or filled so every remaining one was precious.

"Northland wetlands have taken a massive hit recently due to swamp kauri mining. We really have to stop ruining any more."

The wetland was frequented by the critically endangered bittern as well as the fernbird and banded rail, he said.

Mr Lieffering has given the applicants and council planners until the end of the month to respond to the revised proposals. If he has all the information he needs he will then close the hearing and make a decision within 15 working days.