Cost for Gore bridge, which will never be built, more that $900k

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

The Gore District Council proposed to build a cable-stay design bridge to carry water pipelines from the East Gore water plant to the Jacobstown wells. It now says the design is off the table and it is investigating other options.

The Gore District Council and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spent more than $900,000 on a bridge that will never be built across the Mataura River.

The council says it is considering new options on how it will get water pipes across the river after it lost a legal battle in the Environment Court in regard to a proposed bridge.

However, a cable-stay bridge design, which it initially proposed, is not an option being considered.

The council planned to build the bridge to carry water pipes from the East Gore treatment plant, which it has been upgrading, to the Jacobstown Wells.

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Some affected residents opposed the building of the bridge and after a protracted battle, the Environment Court found in their favour in March.

Council chief executive Stephen Parry said following that decision, the council met on April 12 and considered several options for conveying water pipes across the Mataura River.

“Those options were narrowed down to a smaller number. The council is now working on concept designs and costings for each option before engagement first with key stakeholders, and then the wider community takes place. No decision on a preferred option is expected within the next three months,’' he said.

A cable stay design was off the table, he said.

An Official Information Act request has revealed the total cost for the ill-fated Longford Cycling and Walkway Bridge was $901,420. That figure does not include the council’s cost of purchasing land on the west side of the Mataura River.

Parry said the council would have had to purchase the land irrespective of the location of a bridge to carry water pipes from the East Gore treatment plant to the Jacobstown Wells.

“This project has received significant funding from our project partner Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

“When the project started, our financial assistance rate (FAR) from NZTA was 56%. However, from July 1 2021, the Council’s FAR has been 59%. Consequently, Waka Kotahi NZTA’s costs to date are $508,762 and the council’s costs are $392,658,’’ he said.

He said the costs were spread over four years as assessing options for a bridge started in 2019.