Message from Councillor Crystal Beavis.

The survey to capture your views is available to complete online at https://nzta.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6KWltlpPEMyqMQK

This survey seeks community feedback on the feasibility of a new option to keep the rail crossing open – to realign Telephone Rd and to close Holland Rd at the western side of the intersection.  This option is costed at $3-$4 million and, compared with the cost of the first options proposed to meet safety requirements ($8-$11 million), it would more closely rival the cost of permanent closure ($2.5 million). As the attachment says, “The lower cost is significant, since securing funding for an upgrade to allow the intersection to remain open will be challenging.’’

As I am not sure where or how many households have received this survey, and as I was surprised to hear of some people living near the crossing who had not received a copy, I thought it was important to ensure you had all received one, along with the link to the online survey. This is not simply an issue that affects Puketaha alone. Most of you have told me that the closure of the rail crossing continues to affect your communities and local travel arrangements, so I invite you to complete the survey yourselves and also to distribute it to others in your communities who would be interested to take part and have their say.