An appeal has been lodged with the Environment Court against a decision to allow the Gore District Council to build a bridge across the Mataura River about 650m upstream of Gore’s existing traffic bridge.

The appeal is from the Waimea Plains Landscape Preservation Society Incorporated. It is signed by its chairman David Gray.

An independent Hearing Panel last month approved resource consent applications from the Council to construct the bridge. The Panel was delegated to make a decision by both the Gore District Council and Environment Southland.

The cable-stay bridge would carry new water pipelines linking the upgraded East Gore water treatment plant with the Jacobstown Wells and Hilbre Avenue reservoir. The bridge will also provide a safe link between east and west Gore for cyclists and pedestrians.

Independent Planning Consultant Keith Hovell said the Society, as the appellant, has five working days to serve a copy of its appeal on all persons who lodged a submission to the resource consents.

“Any submitter has a right to become a party to the appeal, provided they notify the Environment Court no later than 11 June.”

Any submitter considering joining the appeal should be aware the Notice of Appeal limits the matters the Court is able to consider. In seeking to become a party to the appeal, no additional matters can be raised, Mr Hovell said.

The process and its timing is now in the hands of the Environment Court.

“The usual procedure is for the Court to determine if the parties are willing to go to mediation. If so, that will be initiated.”

If there is no mediation, or if there is no resolution of issues arising from the mediation, the Court will set a timetable for the preparation and exchange of evidence between the parties.

A formal hearing will follow, but again the timing of this is determined by the Courts, Mr Hovell said.

The decision to approve resource consent applications for the construction of a bridge over the Mataura River to carry critical infrastructure will have a huge positive impact on Gore’s water supply, says Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks.

The Gore District Council welcomes the decision by the independent hearing commissioners to approve two land use resource consent applications to build a new cable-stay bridge about 650 metres upstream of the existing Gore traffic bridge.

The bridge is part of a multi-million dollar project to provide a safe and reliable drinking water supply for Gore residents.

It will carry new water pipelines linking the upgraded East Gore water treatment plant with the Jacobstown Wells and Hilbre Avenue reservoir. The bridge will also provide a safe link between east and west Gore for cyclists and pedestrians.

Mr Hicks said the decision was very pleasing, given the enormous positive impact the bridge was going to have on the security and quality of Gore’s water supply.

He acknowledged the commissioners’ comment the decision was ‘a close call’.

“There are learnings we can take from the process and use in the future.

“That said, it’s (the decision) a positive result for Gore and will deliver long term public benefit.”

In their decision, the commissioners mention “significant benefits” to the broader Gore community in terms of improved water supply and better connectivity for walkers and cyclists.

Gore District Chief Executive Stephen Parry said it had been a long journey to get to this point.

“This is a multifaceted, complex project focusing on improving water quality as well as walking and cycling opportunities.

“I always thought it would be a delicately poised debate between public benefit versus private impact, and believe the decision reflects that.”

He said the Council had carefully considered several other locations before deciding on the site near the intersection between Church and Huron streets.

While some people vehemently opposed the bridge, the project also had its fair share of supporters, Mr Parry said.

“Any submitter opposed to the decision has 15 working days to lodge an appeal.”

Mr Parry reiterated the mayor’s comments about the Council learning from the process – “as is the norm with any large project, there will be a full post mortem at its completion”.

Background Info

 The bridge’s dimensions are 39 metres at its highest point, 90 metres long, and 3 metres wide

 There were 44 submissions to the Gore District Council’s resource consent applications

 Of those submissions, 25 were in opposition, 18 in support and one neutral

 Environment Southland received 16 submissions

 The hearing was held over two days before independent hearing commissioners Dean Chrystal, Reginald Proffit and Bonnie Mager

A hearing to consider the Gore District Council’s proposal to build a bridge across the Mataura River, just upstream of the existing traffic bridge, will be held next month.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday 16 December in the temporary Council chambers. It will continue the next day if required. The hearing is open to the public, but only those who submitted on the resource consent applications may speak.

The applications attracted 44 submissions, of which 17 people asked to speak at the hearing.

Three independent Hearing Commissioners have delegated authority to determine the resource consents lodged with the district council and Environment Southland.

They are:

• Dean Chrystal, of Christchurch,
• Reginal Proffit, of Gisborne, and
• Bonnie Mager, of Invercargill.

Independent Consultant Planner Keith Hovell said the panel would consider the applications lodged, submissions received and any material presented at the hearing. The panel will reserve its decision.

The district council has lodged resource consent applications to build a cable-stay bridge across the Mataura River, about 650 metres upstream of the existing Gore traffic bridge.

The new bridge will provide a cycling and walking link, and carry a new water pipeline from the East Gore water treatment plant to the Jacobstown Wells.

The proposed location of the bridge is near the intersection between Church and Huron streets on the east bank, and Surrey Street on the west bank.

Mr Hovell said the commissioners were likely to visit the proposed location during the hearing.

Both the district council and Environment Southland, in their roles as the consent authority, will provide a written assessment of the resource consents lodged and the submissions received. These reports must be made available by 25 November.

The district council, as the applicant, must also make available any evidence it wishes to present by 2 December; while any submitter intending to call an expert must provide their evidence in writing by 9 December.

Copies of all the evidence will be available on www.lets.talk.goredc.govt.nz or www.es.govt.nz

The Gore District Council’s resource consent applications to build a cable-stay bridge across the Mataura River, near the existing Gore traffic bridge, has attracted 44 submissions.

There are:

• 25 in opposition
• 18 in support
• 1 neutral

The resource consent applications were lodged last month with Environment Southland and the Gore District Council, as the regulating authorities.

Independent Consultant Planner Keith Hovell said there will be a joint hearing to consider the submissions. A date for the hearing has yet to be set.

There are several options as to what happens prior to the hearing, depending on what is contained in the submissions, he said.

These include a pre-hearing meeting involving all the submitters and the applicant, and a request for further information from the applicant.

The proposed new bridge will provide a cycling and walking link, and carry a new water pipeline from the East Gore water treatment plant to the Jacobstown Wells.

It is proposed to locate the bridge near the intersection between Church and Huron streets on the east bank, and Surrey Street on the west bank.

The bridge's dimensions are:

• 39 metres at its highest point,
• 90 metres long, and
• 3 metres wide.