GREYMOUTH RAILWAY PLAN

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1946, Page 7

GREYMOUTH RAILWAY PLAN

TO ELIMINATE CROSSINGS And Centralise the Station In any plan of public works for the West Coast there would appear to be a case for the better arrangement of the railway system within tho municipality of Greymouth, where the multiplicity of road crossings and the location of the station have long been a detrimental feature. It is understood that the Westland District Progress League intends submitting to the Minister of Works. Hon. R. Semple, upon his forthcoming visit, among others things a scheme which has been framed by Mr Charles O’Donnell, the wellknown contractor of Greymouth. Mr O’Donnell, in outlining his plan for the information of the Progress League, stated: — “I have noted your League’s desire to effect progress in this district, and recollect some time ago your making representations to the Minister of Railways in connection with a new railway station for Greymouth. I do not remember what reply you received from Mr Semple, but as the war was on I have no doubt that the answer was that you would get a new station when things returned to normal.

“I have given a great deal of thought to a scheme whereby the station might be removed from its present location; probably it is impossible to get a worse site than where the station now stands—in the teeth of the “barber” and in the coldest portion of the town, and I had this in mind with the scheme I now submit to your League for consideration.

“First of all you will recollect that for many years the Harbour Board railway line was laid the full length of Mawhera Quay. I take it from this that the space occupied by that line, although now used as a street, could again be used for railway purposes. “Let us start at Cobden bridge. I propose that a flag station be built east of the bridge. The main line from Stillwater would run west along Mawhera Quay to its interection with Boundary Street, continue along Boundary Street to near the lagoon at Victoria Park, run along past the park, at its rear, to a point-where it would join Water Walk, opposite the aerodrome, continue along past the back of the hospital, abattoirs and cemetery, ultimately linking up with the present railway line somewhere near South Beach. The,route briefly described above is set out on the enclosed litho. “So much for the proposed run of the railway lines. Now I contend that an' up-to-date station could be built near McGinley Park and a further flag station near the present abattoirs site.

“To get to the railway workshops and round-house a loop could be constructed from a point behind the trotting track. “The most important point, outside of placing the main station in a more central site, is that my proposals would wipe out altogether ten level crossings between Cobden bridge and South Beach. It would, of course be necessary to erect one overbridge and a footbridge. The latter could be shifted from its present position connecting Mackay Street with Alexander Terrace, and re-erect-cd at Gresson Street. “The elimination of these ten crossings would not be the only advantage. We would have the whole of the land now occupied by the railway lines between the Cobden bridge and South Beach capable of being used for other purposes. For instance the town has been crying out for a central bus depot. Why not utilise the present railway station site and the adjoining yards for this purpose? We could also utilise the land at present used for railway tracks, between Revington’s Hotel and the station, for another highway that would enable traffic to proceed from Tainui Street and south to Cobden and Runanga, as well ds to Omoto along that route, thereby curtailing the traffic in Tainui Street, Mawhera Quay and Mackay Street. Another outlet would also be possible from Alexander Terrace past the proposed bus station to Cobden and Omoto.

“I hope that your members will see the merit in the suggestions and that it will be found of sufficient importance to place before the Minister of Railways when you are pressing foi' a new station for this town. We certainly need something better than we possess, and I feel that in pressing the claims foi' a new station we should also press for a better method 'of handling rail and road traffic than what we have at present. “Finally there is one other aspect worth noting. Assuming acceptance of the idea to p,ut a highway from Revington’s to the present station site, the Borough would have additional lands for building of homes, etc., along the full length of Petrie Avenue and beyond.”