Ashburton is being made to "look scruffy" by KiwiRail, district councillor Carolyn Cameron says, and she is demanding the organisation take action over the state of its land.
Photo: Supplied/ Local Democracy Reporting/ Ashburton Guardian - Daniel Alvey
The Ashburton District councillor demanded KiwiRail look into the state of its land in the area, especially in urban zones, and said it was not up to standard.
"We take great pride in our town. We spend a lot of money as a community on our open spaces and making sure our lawns are mowed, weeds are sprayed, and all the rest of it.
"I get a lot of complaints, as do the rest of the people around the table, with regards to the weeds on KiwiRail owned land."
KiwiRail was in the business of rail, not landscaping, she said, and council had already tried to contact the organisation over the issue.
Her message was "tidy up your act".
Cameron asked for answers on how the council can "deal with the neglect".
"You have let us down quite badly in that area, and it's not a small thing."
KiwiRail southern network services manager Mark Heissenbuttel said: "it's a big issue for us and its an expensive issue, but we are committed to it".
The organisation had 4000km of track nationwide and was one of the largest landowners in the country, but Heissenbuttel said they felt the responsibility of being a good neighbour.
He told Cameron that KiwiRail would respond to the concerns raised and come back with a solution.
Cameron also said the area's heritage rail footbridge needed restoration work.
That project could be a candidate for the Rail Heritage Trust to support, Heissenbuttel said, and he promised to look into that and report back.
South Island's 'heritage fleet' to be replaced
Any rail vehicle older than 40 years is classified with heritage status by The Rail Heritage Trust.
Heissenbuttel said by that definition: "Our whole entire fleet in the South Island is a heritage vehicle."
That looked set to change as the government's 2022 budget included almost $350 million for KiwiRail to complete a like-for-like replacement of ageing locomotives and freight wagons.
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