The actual charge would vary depending on location, travel time and site complexity but a spokesman confirmed that with costs for documentation, administration and holding the access grant, the annual charge would be a minimum of $750.
The NZ Farmers Weekly reported last week the charge would be $300 a year based on information supplied by farmers who had been contacted by KiwiRail.
KiwiRail initially declined to say what the cost would be, saying the charge varied depending on a number of factors.
It this week provided clarification saying the minimum annual charge of $750 was the annual cost of managing the crossing.
KiwiRail was also seeking the closure of many of the 1287 rail crossings on private land because it was concerned they were unsafe for staff and the public.
“Level crossings are a critical hazard and must be managed appropriately,” KiwiRail’s group manager of network services Todd Moyle said last week.
Only crossings with a deed of grant would be allowed to stay open.
Federated Farmers senior policy adviser Kevin Geddes said a deed of grant would cost $350.
KiwiRail was correct in saying it had a duty of care to ensure staff and the public were safe but it was negotiating individual situations on a bulk basis and in doing so was offending neighbouring land owners.
“They are behaving like a large corporate that is under pressure and losing money.”
Property was an area KiwiRail had identified to improve its financial performance but Geddes said its negotiating tactics were not resonating with its neighbours and would damage long established relationships.
“Doing it as a blanket process is clearly not the way to deal with individuals.
“The consequences will offend people because they have not acknowledged the historic relationship they have had with farmers.”
Farmers should engage with KiwiRail and negotiate individually according to their situation, he said.
