THE news that the Matarawa Station is staying has left a lobby group spokesperson stunned in a good way.
The Greater Wellington Regional Council passenger transport committee decided yesterday to keep the service, after a recommendation from councillor Ian Buchanan about the importance of the station to the growing rural community.
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Our Station spokeswoman Lucinda Birch said the news is brilliant.
"I'm actually a bit stunned," she said. "We've worked very, very hard and the community has just pulled together on this and it's just wonderful."
Carterton artist Rhondda Greig said the decision is splendid because there is a lot of growth going on in that area.
"It's just vital the station is kept open for it all, so that's marvellous."
Mr Buchanan said he feels pleased about the result because of the importance of the service to the rural community.
He said the main reason the station will be kept is because of the growth predicted for the area, but said the committee took the views of the community from submissions and Sunday's public meeting into account as well.
"It's very important to that community in terms of its long-term future and therefore the service will continue," he said. "We wanted to future-proof that community with its public transport service."
The platform work at Matarawa Station will be put out for tender this week, with temporary arrangements made for carriage access when the new trains arrive in May.
Mr Buchanan said the new platform should be completed by the end of June.
