Fast-track plans for new bridge
A new 70m-long bridge is one of six projects Tasman District Council plans to fast-track to help stimulate the construction sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The planned two-lane vehicle and pedestrian-cycle bridge is to be built across Borck Creek along Berryfield Drive in Richmond West. It will connect the two halves of the large and rapidly growing residential development.
More than 3000 people are expected to eventually live at Richmond West and use the bridge. Construction of the bridge was planned for the 2021-22 year but councillors last week agreed to bring the project forward to 2020-21 and put in another $300,000. That additional funding takes the council’s contribution to $1.25 million for the bridge, which is estimated to cost $1.9m.
Council activity planning manager Dwayne Fletcher told councillors a request would be made for a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) subsidy for the project.
‘‘There’s no guarantee that we’ll get it and if we don’t get it through the funding round that we’re requesting at the moment, we’re probably not likely to get it ever,’’ Fletcher said. ‘‘I don’t think the bridge can wait.’’
A staff report says Richmond
West is growing ‘‘much faster’’ than forecast.
‘‘Work needs to commence on the bridge while there is still land available to site the construction,’’ the report says.
Fletcher explained to councillors that the additional $300,000 of council funding was needed because the developer – Richmond West Development Company Ltd – had lowered its planned contribution to the bridge after paying more than its expected share for a 360m upgrade of nearby McShane Rd.
‘‘They’re not compelled to give us any money [for the bridge] ... but it’s not necessarily a bad thing,’’ Fletcher said of the additional council contribution. ‘‘We’re moving from an activity, McShane Rd, which is not proposed to be subsidised by NZTA to the bridge, which has a shot at being subsidised by NZTA.’’
The report says the council’s net contribution to the bridge project will be 83 per cent funded by development contributions.
As well as additional funding, the bridge project will be fast tracked under a direct procurement process councillors agreed to as a temporary dispensation for projects up to $2m in value.
Any Government-funded Covid-19 economic stimulus projects under $2m can also be fast-tracked under the dispensation. The report says the fasttrack process will ‘‘equitably allocate’’ the projects to local contractors who are competent, have a good record with the council and are on its approved supplier list.
Engineering services manager Richard Kirby told councillors it would be ‘‘an open-book type process where we will have an independent evaluator come in and go through the schedule of prices with us to make sure they reflect the current market prices before we sign it off’’. Councillor Christeen Mackenzie asked how transparency would be ensured ‘‘because otherwise there will be accusations of favouritism and all the rest of it’’.
Kirby said the council had been talking to the local branch of Civil Contractors New Zealand ‘‘right through Covid and we discussed this with them’’.
‘‘They came back to us and said: ‘We prefer the council just nominate which contractors they want for each project’,’’ Kirby said. ‘‘As far as transparency, this is around value for money. We’ve got processes in place ... we’ve done them in the past.’’
Other projects the council plans to fast track are wastewater pump station emergency storage tanks, residential water meter renewals, the Richmond water treatment plant utilities storage facility, Pohara stormwater improvements and the Waimea water treatment plant upgrade.
‘‘I don’t think the bridge can wait.’’ Dwayne Fletcher
Council activity planning manager