Publication: nc17082011

Volunteers from Plimmerton who put in 2000 hours of free labour into restoring the suburb’s railway station have been recognised in a special presentation from the Rail Heritage Trust.

The Plimmerton station building was constructed in 1939. But by the turn of the 21st century it was becoming increasingly dilapidated and its roof leaked. KiwiRail proposed demolishing it and replacing it with a couple of shelters.

However, the Plimmerton Residents Association objected and gained community support for a full restoration.

With help from Porirua City Council village planning programme, the community came up with a proposal to save the station using volunteer labour 

With KiwiRail supplying most of the capital, members of the community spent eight months under the direction of project managers Allan Dodson and Dave Anderson restoring the building and bringing it up to standard in time for a gala reopening in October 2010.

Plimmerton Residents Association chairman Colin Bleasdale says although volunteers did most of the work, there were occasions when specialist help was required. “Removing the roof was a nightmare. It took two nights from midnight to 5am.” He says KiwiRail was very co-operative, allowing volunteers to work on a platform within metres of passing trains.

“The aim of the project is to have an active railway station and we’ve achieved that.”

Porirua mayor Nick Leggett says the award is a tribute to the spirit of a community that refused to accept the loss of their rail station. 

“KiwiRail heard the call and listened. Thanks to the people’s vision the station was not demolished.”

Rail Heritage Trust chairman Euan McQueen says the Plimmerton project is an example of what can be achieved if communities, local authorities and KiwiRail work together. “This project is a model for other station restorations throughout the country.”