Submitters set to speak at bridge hearing

GORE

A HEARING into the Gore District Council’s controversial proposal to build another bridge across the Mataura River is expected to draw a large crowd next month.

The council has lodged resource consent applications to build a cablestay bridge across the river, about 650 metres upstream of the existing Gore traffic bridge.

The new bridge would provide a cycling and walking link, and carry a new water pipeline from the East Gore water treatment plant to the Jacobstown Wells.

Its proposed location is near the intersection of Church and Huron Sts on the river’s east bank, and Surrey St on the west bank.

The hearing will be held on December 16 in the temporary council chambers, and will continue the next day if required.

It is open to the public, but only those who made submissions may speak. The resource consent applications attracted 43 submissions; 17 people have asked to speak at the hearing.

Independent hearing commissioners Dean Chrystal, of Christchurch, Reginald Proffit, of Gisborne, and Bonnie Mager, of Invercargill, have been delegated authority to determine applications lodged with the council and Environment Southland.

Independent consultant planner Keith Hovell said the commissioners were likely to visit the proposed location during the hearing, and would consider the applications lodged, submissions received and any material presented at the hearing.

Mr Hovell said both the district council and Environment Southland, in their roles as the consent authority, would provide a written assessment of the applications lodged and the submissions received.

As the applicant, the council would also make available any evidence it wanted to present by December 2; any submitter intending to call an expert must provide their evidence in writing by December 9.

The commissioners would reserve their decision, he said.