Media release
3 February 2006

Hole in wall ensures safe passage

They’re the ‘Hole in the Wall’ Gang.

Their mission: to make Waitakere Village’s railway shelter a safer, more desirable place to wait for a train.

The ‘gang’ – Waitakere Residents and Ratepayers, Waitakere City Council representatives and Neighbourhood Watch – aims to safeguard passengers waiting for trains, after reports of about people loitering in the station’s concrete shelter.

The group’s first accomplishment is to make OnTrack aware of the situation. This has resulted in a “hole” being cut in the back wall of the shelter, to allow visibility from the road.

“The shelter provided a perfect place for clandestine activity.” says Christine Shepherd, Chair of the Waitakere Community Board.

“Now that the hole has been cut, it is not as secluded and, hopefully will not now be used as a makeshift toilet or as a place to use illegal drugs. We are delighted that OnTrack has recognised the residents’ concerns and we are hoping that ARTNL may see fit to provide toilets at the station,” she says.

Negotiations are continuing between the residents’ groups, Council representatives, OnTrack and ARTNL, says Waitakere community board’s Residents and Ratepayers representative Sharon Davies.

ENDS

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