Planner has concerns with Gore's proposed multimillion-dollar bridge

Wednesday, 25 November 2020

An artist impression of the $3.7 million cable-stay design bridge as part of a $10.8 million project to carry water pipelines from the east Gore plant to the Jacobstown wells. It will be the longest and tallest structure of this type in New Zealand at 39 metres high and 90m long.

A planner is critical of the Gore District Council for not consulting with residents more about its plans to build a new multimillion-dollar bridge.

Even the Hokonui Runanga declined to write a cultural impact assessment because the council did not talk to them before lodging resource consents.

Planner Nigel Bryce recommends resource consent for the proposed $3.7 million pedestrian and cycleway bridge across the Mataura River be declined.

Council chief executive Steve Parry said he was unable to comment on the report or the planner’s recommendation.

“There is a process to go through. The council will be making a presentation at the hearing and then it is up to the commissioners. We will present and see what happens.’’

* GDC's application to build new bridge has been suspended

* Balloon launched to show height of proposed Gore bridge

* Gore's new bridge part of cycleway development

In the report, Bryce says adverse effects on people’s views, which could not be mitigated, would outweigh the community benefits of the bridge.

The rununga had previously lodged a submission opposing the bridge being built and says the council’s request for a cultural impact assessment after submissions had closed was ‘’superficial engagement in order to tick a box instead of being meaningful engagement’’.

In June, the council announced plans to build a cable-stay bridge across the river, about 650 metres upstream of the existing Gore traffic bridge, which would carry water pipes across the river as part of a $10.7m upgrade of its east Gore water treatment plant.

The planner’s recommendation was welcomed by Lynn Grey, of the Waimea Plains Landscape Preservation Society.

“It is good to see the planner has identified the failings of the application and recognised it cannot be approved,’’ she said.

The report recommends that the council seeks further advice on the effects of the proposed development on tangata whenua cultural landscape values.

The resource consent applications attracted 43 submissions – 26 in opposition, 17 in support, two neutral and one in support but opposing the site.

The council had to apply to itself and Environment Southland for resource consent to build the bridge.

A joint resource consent hearing will be held on December 16.

If it is built, the NZ Transport Agency would co-fund 55 per cent of the $3.7m bridge, leaving the council to pay $1.6m. The bridge would be the longest and tallest cable-stay design bridge in New Zealand at 39 metres high and 90m long.