Greater Wellington Regional Council called for public submissions on the railway application on 2 December 2011, remaining open until 31 January 2012.

The Trust invites anyone with an interest in NZ Railway or industrial heritage to make a submission in support of the railway reinstatement, using (or adapting) this form: supportive public submission form (pro forma).

The Trust heard the objections at the council meeting and the fact that a lot of the cyclist groups were concerned with the proposed gradient of the new cycleway. The Trust has revised the specification to the walkway/cycleway component of the project, also including an option to share the rail deck of the truss bridge at Pakuratahi with walkway users as a road/rail configuration. The reduction in gradient of the contour route to 0-5% and widen the path to 4m is going to be minimal in the overall cost of the project. These changes have been incorporated into a revised executive summary, and revised new walkway specification.

The reinstated railway will bring additional will provide park users with additional services including less able bodied people being able to visit Summit and the ability for people to be able to ride the train into the park and walk or cycle on the return journey.

Operation of the railway with heritage equipment will provide a real life interpretation and experience of the railway to people whether they are riding the railway or participating in any of the other activities available in the regional park.

The benefits of such a railway have been proven overseas in several countries. Not only will the proposal reinstate a railway of national significance to the founding of New Zealand the proposal will create jobs in the design, construction and maintenance of the railway.

Similar railways in other countries such as, the Welsh Highland Railway and Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness railway, have demonstrated the potential of heritage railways to yield economic benefits for the tourism sector and the regional economy.

Research in Wales shows that the Welsh Highland Railway generates approximately 350 jobs in spin off industries and puts about £15m a year into the local economy. The FR&WHR - Major Contributors to the Gwynedd Economy -Dr Megan Williams