Future of Ohakune Railway Station to be considered at Waimarino-Waiouru Community Board meeting as earthquake rules force decision

Ohakune Railway Station needs its platform strengthened, chimneys built and the building needs to be re-piled to meet the National Building Standard. Photo / Bevan Conley

The future of the earthquake-prone Ohakune Railway Station building will be considered by the Waimarino-Waiouru Community Board at a meeting on July 5.

It was built in 1906 and is listed as a heritage NZ category two historic place, but has been assessed as being at only 30 per cent of the required New Building Standard.

The minimum standard required is 33 per cent.

As a non-priority building, Ruapehu District Council would have up to 25 years to earthquake strengthen the building. In the interim, it can continue to be utilised as offices, retail space and a public toilet.

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said, while time was on their side, if work was not done, the station building and platform would no longer be able to be used.

"Having functioning railway stations will be key to developing tourism rail services which is an important objective of the Ruapehu Regional Visitor Development Plan," Cameron said.

"As KiwiRail is the owner of the platform canopy, they will need to be part of any solution."

Part of the development plan looks at raising regional visitor expenditure to $400m by 2028.

Cameron said the council had a good working relationship with KiwiRail and was confident it would want to see heritage assets such as the station in use and enhancing visitor experiences.

Strengthening of the platform, building chimneys and re-piling of the building is required to bring the station up to 33 per cent required by the New Building Standard.

The cost of carrying out these improvements could be more than $300,000.

"Anyone who has ever renovated an historic building knows that there is often additional time and cost involved in order to retain the heritage values of the building," Cameron said.

"To re-pile the building we will need to move the station off-site to access the ground works which would then require the chimneys to be dismantled and rebuilt."

Cameron said if the board recommended earthquake strengthening, the council might consider whether the building would be better off being owned by a trust dedicated to its preservation.

"Council recognises that the community has strong feelings toward the Ohakune Railway Station building and feel that many people will want the earthquake strengthening work completed despite any potential cost."