Still an ill-considered decision
While Auckland Transport did get back to me around Te Mahia Station (basically wait four weeks for a public announcement), Manurewa Local Board have jumped the gun on the announcement.
From Scoop
Te Mahia train station has been saved
Manurewa civic leaders are hailing a decision to retain the Te Mahia train station at Greenmeadows, which completes a promise made to residents in 2013.Te Mahia train station has been saved
Manurewa Local Board chairperson Angela Dalton and deputy chairperson Simeon Brown said the decision by Auckland Transport was very important for Greenmeadows residents.
“We made a public commitment in 2013 to our constituents to campaign for the retention of Te Mahia. This has been a long and unremitting journey of advocacy on behalf of commuters in Greenmeadows, as well as Randwick Park commuters who access the station via Ferguson and Trimdon streets.
“We are pleased the board of Auckland Transport has taken this decision, and we will be encouraging local residents to patronise the station to help justify its continued retention,” Angela Dalton said.
In advice to the board this week, chairperson Dr Lester Levy said Auckland Transport’s board had resolved to keep the Te Mahia station open, approve minor upgrades subject to the availability of funding, and keep the station under review.
Simeon Brown said while the news was a victory for Manurewa, the need to retain and grow patronage was necessary to support the argument for Te Mahia in the long term.
“If patronage fails to increase once development in Greenmeadows and Te Mahia takes place, it would trigger a further review of that station. While we are delighted to keep Te Mahia open, we need the public’s assistance to keep station patronage heading in the right direction,” Simeon Brown said.
Angela Dalton said it was time for Auckland Council to come to the party and stop freeloading off Greenmeadows.
“It’s time for Mayor Len Brown to make a commitment to Greenmeadows and to Manurewa by funding improvements to make to Te Mahia station safe and accessible.
“Four years after he was first elected, Mayor Brown and Auckland councillors need to start doing their job for Manurewa and not just rely on the Manurewa Local Board’s efforts to maintain existing services.
“The Mayor and councillors have deemed Manurewa a place that can cater for massive intensification in accordance with the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, despite strong local opposition. Intensification presents a challenge to the resilience of working communities like Greenmeadows, we needs to be offset this with a proper commitment to fund public services and public infrastructure.
“Patronage of Te Mahia will only increase if it is safe and accessible. It is a message that the board continues to make. We are pleased that Auckland Transport is listening but sceptical about the willingness of Auckland Council to consider issues of funding equity from one community to the next,” Angela Dalton said.
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Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1502/S00441/te-mahia-train-station-has-been-saved.htm
This is not a victory at all but a result of meddling in a situation Auckland Transport should have closed the station once the new network goes live 2016.
My reasoning for Te Mahia closing has not changed and can be seen here: CLOSING TE MAHIA STATION
In response to a particular commenter, my linked post provides most of the situation under the new network in regards to buses and feeder buses as a result of Te Mahia closing.
Manurewa is a Town Centre and also houses a rail/bus/park and ride interchange where you have buses not only going north and south on the Great South Road, but east and west to Howick, Weymouth, Clendon, and both Airport and Manukau via Roscommon Road.
Manurewa Town Centre needs a serious upgrade and can take I believe six stories under the Unitary Plan with the immediate surrounds taking low-rise Terrace Housing and Apartments. This would allow investment to come in (as Manurewa is a fast growing area with a very good interchange already in place) and drive renewal in a very run down area. NIMBYism from the Local Board on intensification efforts (so down zoning) would drive off that investment or renewal drive especially from the private sector as it would not be economical to do so.
I am also looking at the Auckland Transport Regional Land Transport Program which we are currently being consulted on. Under the RLTP the Te Mahia Station upgrade is ranked 110 out of 173 in transport projects in which there is no funding under the Basic Transport Network but possible under the Auckland Plan Transport Network.
Unless AT are looking to reallocate their reduced budget from else where or the Local Board willing to take a Targeted Rate for Te Mahia I love to know how they wish to proceed. They have effectively set Te Mahia up and themselves for failure.
So I am rather not thrilled with the Local Board in regards to Te Mahia (nor their NIMBYism towards the Unitary Plan for their area). It just reeks of meddling on something that should have been put to bed a long time ago. And that is close the station.
RLTP (check page 109 for Te Mahia Ranking)
https://www.scribd.com/doc/253726018/Draft-Regional-Land-Transport-Plan-Document-2015-2025#page=109
Talking Southern Auckland 