Weston residents have come out fighting to defend their lifestyle from OnTrack reopening the Waiareka to Weston branch railway line to transport cement if Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd builds its $300 million cement plant near their town.
Yesterday and Thursday they put their case to Waitaki District Council-appointed commissioner Allan Cubitt, who is considering a request from OnTrack to designate the branch line so it can be reopened if the cement plant is built.
Meek St resident Barbara Kitto, who has lived in Weston for 17 years was at the hearing to: "Fight for my lifestyle".
The proposed cement plant and reopening of the railway line caused her "so much anger and distress" that a foreign company could use her backyard with the council's blessing to make themselves richer while she lost her lifestyle.
"The stress I feel at times is immeasurable, I do not want to feel forced to leave but I do not agree with either the plant or the railway line going back in.
"But, I also feel at the end of the day it's probably a waste of time.
It will most likely all happen and my husband and I will have to leave . . . and that just breaks my heart," she said.
Charles St resident Stewart Morton said numerous houses had been built alongside the branch line since it was closed and would face unacceptable adverse effects from noise and traffic disruption.
Oamaru resident Dave McKenzie said people had bought or built homes at Weston on the understanding the line was closed, as stated in the Waitaki district plan.
Cormacks Rd resident Graeme Sutherland said opening the line would not only let Holcim develop a large-scale industry in the "pristine rural valley", but also make it attractive to other industries to set up, creating an industrial corridor.
Submitters opposing reopening the branch line argued the problems were:
• It would enable the establishment of a cement plant and other new industry in the Waiareka Valley;
• People bought properties understanding the line was closed and not designated in the district plan.
• Safety, particularly at the five level crossings and for pedestrians.Loss of the walkway along the existing rail corridor.
• Noise from trains, bells and whistles.
• The times trains would run, if the present restriction of 7am to 7pm was changed.
• The loss of the walkway along the rail corridor and proposals for a new one.
• The change to the quiet, rural character of Weston.
• The potential for other users to use the line to shift dairy cows, transport milk, grain and lime.
• A lack of detail of the work needed to reopen the line so the community could not form a proper opinion.
• The cumulative effects of the cement plant and branch line.
