Ageing bridges cause ‘huge challenge’ as funding falls short
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Ageing bridges across North Canterbury will cost millions to replace, but councils can't afford to do the work alone.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said his district alone has 286 bridges and culverts, with around one-third needing to replaced over the next 30 years.
‘‘We probably need about about $3 million a year just for bridges,’’ he said.
‘‘At the moment we get $200,000 a year for bridge maintenance.’’
The bridges in need of upgrades include Conway River bridge on Inland Road, estimated to cost around $20 million, to smaller bridges and culverts expected to cost less than $1 million.
The Conway River bridge replacement has been listed in the Canterbury Regional Land Transport Plan with a fourth equal priority ranking with several projects, including the Pages Road bridge in Christchurch.
But no date has been set.
The Hurunui District Council’s entire 2024/25 roading programme was $14 million, which included a $5 million Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency subsidy.
The ratepayer was footing the remaining $9 million.
‘‘As a country we need to have a mature conversation about infrastructure funding and some of those conversations will be a bit more confronting,’’ Dobbie said.
He said most of the bridges and culverts around New Zealand were built in the 1950s to 1970s, meaning they were starting to come to the end of the life.
But there has been significant underfunding in infrastructure since then, with councils left to pick up the slack, he said.
The Conway River bridge was on an important route, with oversized vehicles having to use Inland Road if they were unable to use the State Highway 1 tunnels south of Kaikōura.
‘‘It is a local bridge we fund for the benefit of the country,’’ Dobbie said.
He said he would like the ability to loan fund bridge replacement work, provided Waka Kotahi contributed its 52% share.
Waka Kotahi director regional relationships James Caygill said the agency was aware of the problem.
‘‘It is a huge challenge. Every council has bridges they want to work on.’’
He said bridge replacement was funded separately from maintenance, but it was a matter of establishing how urgent the work was.
A Waka Kotahi spokesperson said the agency managed 4751 bridges and large culverts on the country’s state highways (based on 2023 numbers).
The agency has an ‘‘end-of-life’’ bridge replacement programme, with nine state highways bridges being replaced in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme, including two in Canterbury.
‘‘It is extremely difficult to predict the exact ‘end-of-life’ dates for a bridge for a variety of factors, and hence predictions in the 10, 20 and 30 year ranges often come with significant margins of error,’’ the spokesperson said.
Waka Kotahi has a bridge inspection process to ensure state highway bridges and culverts were inspected every two years.
‘‘In some cases this may mean placing speed or weight restrictions on some bridges, at which point operators of over-weight vehicles may have to use alternative routes better suited to them.’’
Speed and weight restrictions were only employed as a last resort, the spokesperson said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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New Amberley cricket ground gets green light
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Amberley is set to get a new cricket ground, despite some community opposition.
The Hurunui District Council approved plans to allow the development of the Amberley Village Green (formerly Eastern Reserve), to the east of the town centre, which will include a cricket ground, at a council meeting on Tuesday, November 26.
Around 120 submissions favoured the development of recreation in the reserve over a cricket ground, during the council’s recent reserve management plan consultation.
At Tuesday’s meeting, councillors approved a plan to install an irrigation system, with water sourced from a submersible bore pump.
Staff have been authorised to tender for the development of a playing surface, excluding the wicket block which will be developed by the Amberley Cricket Club.
A pathway around the perimeter of the reserve and public toilets will also be developed.
A cricket ground was first mooted for the reserve a decade ago when the land was set aside by the developer.
A budget of about $900,000 has been set aside, with 90% from development contributions.
An updated concept plan tabled at the meeting makes provision for other sports and activities such as basketball, a scooter track, a playground and car parking.
Several councillors expressed reservations about the proposed size of the cricket ground.
Councillor Garry Jackson said proposed the cricket ground was close to international standard and could be reduced by 20 percent and still be ‘‘appropriate as a village green club cricket ground’’.
While she acknowledged Jackson’s concerns, councillor Pauline While said the council needed to move forward, and councillor Fiona Harris said the cricket club had been ‘‘patient for long enough’’.
Councillor Robbie Bruerton said ‘‘it is being talked about as if it is only going to be used for cricket, but it can by used for any sport’’.
Councillor Vanessa McPherson voted against the proposal as she said the process had been ‘‘undemocratic’’ in the beginning.
‘‘I am concerned there is not enough funds for a decent children’s playground. I am angry and frustrated by this. It is so unfair.’’
Earlier in the meeting Amberley ratepayer John Weyers urged councillors to vote against establishing another cricket ground.
He said cricket is already being played at the Amberley Domain and ‘‘there is no reason why cricket and football cannot co-exist’’.
While there had been a dispute between the cricket and football clubs, he believed it has now been resolved.
‘‘Amberley is growing and we have an ageing population and a growing number of young families, but we are lacking spaces for recreation.’’
Councillors noted there has been confusion about the name of the new reserve, between the Village Green and the Eastern Reserve.
Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said ‘‘Village Green’’ was the name put forward by the council’s south ward committee.
Dobbie said the council’s reserve management plan will be presented to councillors at a future meeting for adoption.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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