NEWS 16 The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>August</strong> <strong>10</strong>, <strong>2023</strong> Meeting over Clarence Bridge ‘useful’ By BRENDON MCMAHON, Local democracy reporter Ameeting has been heldatthe request of Te RūnangaoKaikōura with affected residents and the Kaikōura District Council around the prolonged replacement of the WaiauToa/Clarence River bridge. Council has planned to replace the inlandGlen Alton bridgedestroyed by the November 2016 earthquake with a new bridge costing$13.5million. But the clock is tickingwith asunset clauseonthe NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi)fundingatthe end of 2025. And gaining consent for anew bridge 500m downstream from the old has been achallengefor council—seven years on from the 2016 earthquakethe rūnanga remainopposed to any interference with the riverbed to enable the bridge to be built. In the meantime, Clarence Valley residents are left vulnerable to isolation due to heavy rainevents and withnoreal alternativeroute. Council chief executive WillDoughty told the July 26 meeting an opportunity had arisen in the pastmonth —atthe request of the rūnanga —tocome together including residents in the area affected by the lossofthe old bridge. ‘‘It was auseful meeting,’’ Mr Doughty said. ‘‘It was at the rūnanga’sinstigation. There was conversations around(bridge) location and there was discussion that the original bridge was built in the right place.” Options and the various iterations for a replacement since 2016 wereonthe table. ‘‘It’sbeen going on for seven years –it’s avery, very complex solution up there.’’ Mr Doughty notedthat in the context of the postearthquake aggrading effects on the river bed and the altered channel structure finding asolution had not been easy. ‘‘If it was easy,wewould have done it,’’ he said. The meeting was held at the council chambers as another function precluded it being staged at the marae. ‘‘We tookthe opportunity to talk to the people on the other side, around the rūnanga’srequest to talktothose affected,’’ he toldcouncil. It had been“an opportunity”but it did not mean anything mightbesubstantially resolved yet. Mr Doughty said the rūnanga was “still opposedtoany new bridgeacrossthe awa” but the facilitatedconversation was agood opportunitytohear from those who had to deal with having no bridge. ‘‘It was for the rūnunga to hear what life was likeuponthe other side ... there was no agreedactions or nextsteps.’’ Affected residentswho joinedthe meetingarticulated well the difficulties of theirlives daytoday without the bridge,hesaid. ‘‘It was quite helpful.’’ Meanwhile council had anumber of tasks ahead of it to move the matter forward. These included“limited notification soon”, reopening the tenders, and workingthrough the environmental impactsofwhat was proposed. ‘‘Therewas comment thatthey might still oppose, but with the commentthat they mightbeable to workthrough some mitigation.’’ Howeverthere were“deliberately no next steps” except for the rūnunga No access ... The remains of the Glen Alton bridge in the Clarence Valley, north of Kaikōura. indicating the matter wouldgototheir next meeting in <strong>August</strong>. The project has an approved 95 percent New Zealand Transport Agency (WakaKotahi) subsidy and the budget has been inflation adjustedbut there is a sunset clause of December 2025. For now access is via WaipapaRoad, Wharekiri Stream and apaper road, whichhas beenenhanced sincethe earthquakes. The Wharekiri Stream is prone to flooding in heavy rain eventsand could be impassablefor up to <strong>10</strong> days, leaving residents isolated. <strong>Canterbury</strong>’sMostExcitingNew Retirement Village PHOTO: FILE Cr RobbieRoche askedifany matters of potential litigation had come up aroundthe project. Mr Doughtysaid there was no mention however council had put out “minimum requirements and specifications” to potentialcontractors around the weightingtobegiven to minimisation of environmental and cultural impacts on the riverbed during construction. ‘‘Quite what further mitigationwould look like has yet to be determined,’’ he said. Publicinterest journalismfunded through NZ On Air. NOWwith an Amazing Special OfferonCompleted Villas! ~ $5000Whiteware, $5000 to move,$<strong>10</strong>000Furniture, $<strong>10</strong>000CASH ~ Amberley CountryEstate has an amazing special offer on newly-built Villas. 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