Build it or drill it? Gore’s councillors are divided on how to get water pipes across the Mataura River

Gore district councillors are divided on whether to build a bridge or tunnel under the Mataura River, but all agree that effective public consultation needs to happen before any decisions are made.

One councillor even threw another option into the mix – building another treatment plant on the west side of the river.

A report included in the agenda for a full council meeting on Tuesday included a recommendation that the council consult with the public on its preferred plans to either build a bridge or install pipelines across the river.

The bridge or tunnel would carry water pipes from the Jacobstown well field on the west side of the river to its East Gore treatment plant so it can supply all the town with water that meets New Zealand drinking water standards.

READ MORE:
* Gore group threatens legal action as council reinvestigates Mataura River bridge site
* Cost for Gore bridge, which will never be built, more that $900k
* Judge declines consents for controversial Gore bridge

But the costings in a report put in front of councillors at a full council meeting on Tuesday were only ballpark figures and the finals costs would only be known after detailed plans were completed, 3 Waters manager Matthew Bayliss told councillors.

The council had assumed it would receive funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency but it was not guaranteed, and more definite plans and design work were needed, he said.

Mayor Ben Bell said the council was meeting with the agency later this week to see if $2.4 million in funding was still an option.

He was adament that the council should engage with the community quickly, and hold a public meeting, because he did not want the decision to drag out until June.

Bell told councillors he was opposed to the idea of a bridge because of the political and financial implications for the council.

He invited each councillor to give their opinion on the issue because he felt the public needed to know what they thought.

Cr Robert MacKenzie supported tunnelling under the river.

Cr Bronwyn Reid agreed that consultation was needed because people feet strongly one way or another.

“Until we know what the community want, this discussion is irrelevant,’’ she said.

Cr Richard McPhail said he felt like he was in a time warp discussing the issue again. The council was at a stand-still, and it needed to go to community and ask what it wanted.

Cr Bret Highsted said councillors should rely the council’s communication staff to guide them on what the public thought.

Cr Keith Hovell said he was concerned that if the council was to provide the same levels of service it provided now there would be rates rises. He would not support a bridge without external funding, and said it would be ‘’dead in the water.’’

Cr Glenys Dickson said the community needed to understand costs and whether Waka Kotahi would fund it. It would be nice to have waterway and cycleway, but she preferred the idea of a trench, because it could end up being ‘’a very costly process’’.

Cr Joe Stringer said his discussions with the public showed they were sitting on fence.

Cr John Gardyne said increased costs meant it would be cheaper to have another treatment plant on other side of the river.

“I know it’s a bit out there, but the cost of piping and reticulation has skyrocketed since the project began,’’ he said.

Cr Paul McPhail wouldn’t say what his preference was until he heard what the public wanted.

Cr Neville Phillips wanted to go ahead with the bridge to build it ‘’for the future, while Cr Stewart MacDonnell said to build a bridge at Maitland St, or go under the river.

The council voted to engage with the community about the options.

The council lodged consents to build a single span cable-stay pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Mataura River in 2020 to carry pipes across the river, which would have gained funding from Waka Kotahi, but lost an Environment Court case after some residents opposed the plan.

In response to an Official Information Act request, council chief executive Stephen Parry told Stuff in April 2022 that the total cost for the Longford Cycling and Walkway Bridge was $901,420. Of that, Waka Kotahi NZTA’s costs to date were $508,762 and the council’s costs were $392,658.

The council also bought a 22.8ha block of land for $575,000 to the north-west of the site of the proposed bridge, which was now being leased.