By email
142 Wakefield Street
PO Box 11646
Manners Street
23 August 2013
Wellington 6142
T 04 384 5708
F 04 385 6960
E/01/05/02
www.gw.govt.nz
Greg Bodnar
[FYI request #1031 email]
Dear Mr Bodnar
Request for information 2013/093
I refer to your request for information dated 26 July 2013, which was received by Greater
Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) on 26 July 2013. You have requested the following
information:
“
What investigation has been done into the safety of the Kaiwharawhara station overbridge?
What actions are required to rehabilitate the overbridge?
Is rehabilitation expected to be undertaken? If so, when?
What measures have been taken to transfer affected rail passengers to alternate services?”
Each of your requests is answered as follows:
What investigation has been done into the safety of the Kaiwharawhara station overbridge?
An initial assessment of the station on 13 June 2013 revealed a significant amount of visual
corrosion on the overbridge. As a result, the station was closed immediately due to safety concerns.
Engineers have since carried out a thorough investigation of the overbridge, indicating a need for
rehabilitation before it can be used by passengers again.
What actions are required to rehabilitate the overbridge?
A full report on the future of the overbridge (attached) has now been completed. Please note, some
information pertaining to costs has been withheld from the report under section 7(2)(i) of the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) in order to enable GWRC to
carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial negotiations. We have considered whether
the public interest in the requested information outweighs GWRC’s need to withhold certain aspects
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of the requested documents. As a result, we do not consider that the public interest outweighs
GWRC’s reason for withholding parts of the documents under the grounds identified above.
Is rehabilitation expected to be undertaken? If so, when?
Council has yet to consider a report and make the necessary decisions in relation to the
Kaiwharawhara station overbridge. A report on this matter will likely be considered by the Council
following the October 2013 elections. A timeline on rehabilitation will not be available until after a
decision has been made.
What measures have been taken to transfer affected rail passengers to alternate services?
No special arrangements have been made to transfer passengers to alternate transport options
following the closure of Kaiwharawhara station. However, Kaiwharawhara is well served by a
number of frequent Metlink bus routes, including the 43, 44, 45, 46, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 83, and
211. Southbound rail passengers from the Hutt Valley can transfer at Petone station for the 83 route.
If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to request
an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Leigh-Anne Buxton General Manager, People and Capability
DD: 04 830 4133
[email address]
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