Local proposes alternative railway corridor1 min read

Reading Time: 2 minutes

As the Avondale-Southdown railway corridor project threatens to disrupt Onehunga, a local resident has proposed an alternative route he believes would better serve the community.

Stephen Lasham, the Deputy Chairman of The Onehunga Enhancement Society (TOES), raised concerns about displacement, noise pollution, road closures and safety risks. He suggests rerouting the corridor alongside the SH20, on the seaward side of Orpheus Drive, instead of it cutting through populated residential areas.

“This route would eliminate the need to cut through urban housing areas, sparing residents the upheaval caused by road closures and property purchases,” he says.

“It would also free up land for a housing development, which could generate revenue to support the rail project. It would also prevent road closures, reduce noise and dust pollution, and allow for a station at the Port of Onehunga, creating a transport hub with ferry connections.”

He admits that his route suggestion comes with some challenges too, including the need for tunnelling or an overpass at Neilson Street, and potential sea level rise concerns.

Local MP, Greg Fleming, has raised the alternative route with KiwiRail, who stated that the gradient on the SH20 is too steep for the rail corridor. “I was quite disappointed about this, but I will continue to press them to investigate further as this is the biggest project that will impact Onehunga.” Stephen says, “with the right design, the gradient issues can be overcome, and this alternative could be a viable, communityfriendly solution.”