Gore bridge plan hangs in balance
One says yes, while another says no.
The future of the Gore District Council’s plan to build a multimillion dollar bridge across the Mataura River hangs in the balance as consultant planners have opposite views on whether resource consent be granted.
The council had to apply to itself and Environment Southland for land use consents to build a $3.7 million pedestrian and cycleway bridge, which would carry water pipes across the river as part of a $10.7m upgrade of its east Gore water treatment plant.
A planner has recommended that Environment Southland grant consent, just a day after another planner recommended that the Gore District Council decline its own application.
In the Gore District Council consent report, Planner Nigel Bryce says adverse effects on people’s views, which could not be mitigated, would outweigh the community benefits of the bridge.
However, a hearing report, prepared by senior consents officer Jade McRae for the Environment Southland consent, said provided that the council adheres to the recommended conditions of consent, any adverse effects on the environment were expected to be no more than minor.
Several submitters were concerned about erosion and flooding.
The report says the proposed bridge design provides for the high flow and flood events without impediment to the river. The cablestay design has no permanent piles located in the river bed. The report says the bridge has been designed to allow a one in 50 year (+ climate change) flood event to pass with 600mm to spare above the flow.
The design will also allow a flow similar to the February 2020 flood, which is the largest flow on record, to pass with 1500mm to spare above the flow. The application was publicly notified in August and 14 submissions were received, 13 in opposition and one with no response.
Gore District Council chief executive Steve Parry said on Wednesday he could not discuss the consent reports before a hearing took place. A joint resource consent hearing will be held on December 16 in Gore.
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.