Hokonui Rūnanga opposes Gore's proposed new bridge

Thursday, 24 September 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.

Gore’s Hokonui Rūnanga have opposed the Gore District Council’s resource consent application to build a pedestrian and cycleway bridge across the Mataura River because the council did not consult with it before announcing its plans.

Several submitters who live near the site of the proposed bridge have also opposed the plans, citing a lack of consultation, while others who were in favour of the bridge being built said it would provide connectivity between east Gore and the rest of the town, and pedestrian and cyclist safety.

The council has lodged consents with Environment Southland and itself to construct the bridge.

The applications attracted 46 submissions – 26 in opposition, 17 in support, two neutral and one in support but opposing the site.

* Gore council lodges consents for new bridge

* Gore's new bridge part of cycleway development

* New $3.7m Mataura bridge design met with opposition

There will be a joint hearing to consider the submissions, but date for the hearing has yet to be set.

In its submission, the Hokonui Rūnanga say it is extremely disappointing that the applicant [the council] only made cursory contact with Hokonui prior to lodgment of the consent ,which did not allow the Rūnanga to work with them as a project partner.

Doing so would have upheld the mana of Hokonui, and taken into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

‘’Hokonui have prepared this submission with the aim to voice/address our concerns, but we consider the ability to have meaningful input is compromised by the presumptuous actions of council.

“In particular, Hokonui believes that the principle of partnership has not been upheld by the applicant given a Cultural Impact Assessment from Hokonui was only been sought once the resource consent was lodged. As such, it appears to be superficial engagement in order to tick a box instead of being meaningful engagement.’’

It also cited the actual and potential adverse effects on the cultural values of Hokonui from the construction of the bridge, the impacts of a known archaeological site 20m downstream from the proposed site, ecological impacts of the bridge structure on the flight paths of avian taonga species, the visual impact of the bridge on the Mataura River, which is identified as an area of Statutory Acknowledgement and an Outstanding Natural Feature, and the safety whānau members and the public in general using the bridge and associated cycle path, particularly around Huron St, as reasons it was opposing the application.

In June, the council announced plans to build a new $3.7 million pedestrian footbridge that carried water pipes across the river, north of the existing traffic bridge, as part of a $10.7 m upgrade of its East Gore water treatment plant.

The NZ Transport Agency would co-fund 55 per cent of the $3.7million cable-stay design bridge, leaving the council to pay $1.6m.

If it goes ahead, the bridge will be the longest and tallest cable-stay design bridge in New Zealand at 39m high and 90m long.