Southern View: May 31, 2016

SOUTHERN VIEW Tuesday May 31 2016 3
News
New Woolston bridge planned
UNSAFE PASSAGE: The Tannery developer Alasdair Cassels says the Garlands Rd bridge is
dangerous for pedestrians. He is pushing for the city council to help fund a footbridge.
• By Tom Doudney
A DEVELOPER has asked
the city council to pay $50,000
for a new public footbridge in
Woolston but would pick up
most of the estimated $450,000
cost himself.
The Tannery developer
Alasdair Cassels made the
proposal for funding the bridge
over the Heathcote River in a
submission to the city council’s
draft Annual Plan.
The bridge would be part
of a wider project for the site,
adjacent to the Tannery which
would also include a wharf.
Mr Cassels, who has recently
appointed an engineer and
architect for the project, said in
his submission that he would
like to see it completed by early
next year.
He believed the bridge was
needed because the road bridge
on Garlands Rd was dangerous
for pedestrians, with a narrow
pavement strip, and vehicles had
been seen mounting the pavement
as they turned on to the
bridge.
“You wouldn’t want to wheel
a pram across the [road] bridge
and you would be pretty careful
about kids,” Mr Cassels said.
The development of The Tannery
had created more foot traffic
in the area, he said.
Mr Cassels said he would cover
most of the remaining $400,000
for the footbridge himself, with
some contributions from other
businesses in the area.
The overall project, including
the wharf, was expected to cost
him between $600,000 and
$700,000.
The design of the proposed
bridge would be an “ornate” art
nouvelle style and Maori fusion.
The wharf would be large
enough for a historic river boat
to berth, waka and kayaks to be
launched.
Land on both sides of the river
would be landscaped, with a
picnic and family area on the
eastern bank.
As well as helping The Tannery,
the project would help the
overall revitalisation of the lower
Heathcote River area, Mr Cassels
said.
Deputy mayor Vicki Buck said
she couldn’t reveal whether Mr
Cassels’ funding request had
been recommended before the
draft Annual Plan came back to
the city council for approval on
June 21.
“I can’t say what is going to
be in the draft budget but [the
project] has been very well considered,”
she said.
“We are looking at helping.”
In Brief
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
City councillor Phil Clearwater
has been selected by leftleaning
group The People’s
Choice as its
candidate to contest the
new Spreydon-Cashmere
ward at local body elections
in October. The group
also named Spreydon-
Heathcote Community Board
chairwoman Karolin Potter,
members Melanie Coker and
Helene Mautner, as well as
builder and project manager
Lee Sampson as its candidates
for the new Spreydon-
Cashmere Community Board.
CORONATION HALL
The Spreydon-Heathcote
Community Board is planning
on consulting residents on
the future of Coronation Hall
in Spreydon Domain. The
hall was damaged in a fire in
December and would cost
$237,000 to repair. A date for
the consultation is yet to be
decided on. The city council
has recommended that the
hall, as well as the Spreydon
Borough memorial gates at
Barrington Park, be given
heritage listings as part of the
district plan review process.
The independent hearings
panel is yet to decide on that
recommendation.
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