Happy that Hillside has a future

"It's just great to know that we have a future, that we can keep moving forward."

• Editorial: Welcome news for Hillside 
• Labour promises continued support for Otago

For KiwiRail mechanical engineer Chris Harkness, an $85 million boost for Dunedin’s Hillside Workshops means more than most.

His father had worked at Hillside, and when he was younger, he used to go into the workshops and help him.

He later did his apprenticeship elsewhere, then returned to Hillside.

Now, he has certainty concerning his future.

He was one of dozens of staff and guests who gathered at the South Dunedin workshops yesterday for a post-Budget visit from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson.

The pair, alongside Dunedin MPs and KiwiRail chief executive Greg Miller, were there to reveal concept plans for the wagon assembly facility announced during last week’s Budget.

Ms Ardern said the investment in Hillside would be a boon for Dunedin.

"Not only do we have the hospital rebuild, now we have this significant project.

"We’re standing here on a site that’s been part of Dunedin and part of the rail network for over 100 years, and it’s not often that something that’s such a strong part of your history is a strong part of your future as well, but that’s the story of rail."

Assembling locally, rather than importing wagons, provided assurances concerning quality and gave a training pipeline, she said.

Mr Miller said KiwiRail’s mission was to do a great job in assembling 1500 wagons by 2026 then go back to the Government to talk about future work.

Mr Robertson said rail was one of the best industries to invest in, because it created jobs and dealt with climate change issues.

A South Dunedin native, he recalled running into Hillside workers while visiting local dairies as a child. That was an example of how much the workshops were entwined with the community.

He described the investment as a "win, win, win".

"It’s good for our communities, and it’s good for our economy," he said.

There were also several special mentions of former Dunedin South MP Clare Curran, a long-time advocate for the revitalisation of Hillside.

Mr Robertson said her commitment to South Dunedin and Hillside was unparalleled.

Hillside mechanical engineer team leader Gary Dalzell had worked there for 41 years, and was there in 2012 when the workshop was all but shut down. About 90 staff were laid off at the time.

He had thought the work would keep "plodding on", but never expected such a revitalisation package.

"It’s absolutely fantastic."

Hillside employed 55 people. It was expected another 45 jobs would be created at the new facility, as well as hundreds of construction jobs for the project.

daisy.hudson@odt.co.nz