Thanks to everyone who took the time to give us feedback. You can read the feedback and an analysis by following the links on the right of this page.
The Council considered your responses at a meeting on 16 May and decided to go peoples' preferred option of drilling the pipeline under the river. Our staff will report in the near future on the next steps including:
- recommended investigation works to minimise the risk associated with drilling,
- recommended procurement methodology,
- estimated project programme, and
- budget breakdown.
We’re working to improve the quality of drinking water supplied to our communities on the west side of the Mataura River.
Our new treatment plant in East Gore is now complete - but we need to get two water pipelines across the river to the Jacobstown Wells so we can deliver water that meets national drinking water standards. Right now, a third of Gore residents are missing out.
There are a few ways the water could be pumped across the river – but before we spend money on additional technical investigations, we’d like to know what you think.
A bit of background
In 2019, we planned a new bridge across the river near Surrey Street that would not only carry the water pipes but would also allow for cyclists and pedestrians. We saw this as an opportunity to add a great asset to our town, providing a facility for people who love to walk and cycle to have another way of getting across the river.
However, we know now we moved too quickly with this proposal and didn’t check in with you, our community, as to what you would like to see. We could have done better. So - we’ve gone back to the drawing board.
This time, we’ll work closely with mana whenua and the wider community to come up with a way to get the water pipeline across the river.
We asked consulting firm Beca to look at our options and rank them based on four factors:
- cultural
- social
- economic
- environmental
The high-level assessment considered things like:
- The cost to ratepayers and alternative funding opportunities,
- Constructability,
- Possible impacts on people,
- Impacts on the river/floods and
- Sustainability.
Beca also worked with representatives from the Hokonui Rūnanga to consider cultural wellbeing and values.
Its report covered 13 options and various locations. Based on the report's findings, we are asking for feedback on:
- Drilling the water pipes under the river at Maitland Street, or
- Building a bridge at one of four locations to carry the pipelines over the river and provide a link between east and west Gore for cyclists and pedestrians.
You can read the report here - Options Assessment Report
We’d like your help
There are different ways to get the water across the river and each comes with its own risks, benefits and costs.
The original cable stay bridge design is NOT among the options.
The costs below are high-level estimates. We will need to complete further investigation and design work before we have a more accurate understanding of the costs.
It is our understanding a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency partnership will bring 59% funding, which would reduce the overall cost to ratepayers.
Some options may not be eligible for this funding because their location wouldn’t encourage as many people to walk or bike to school and work.
Building a bridge would take around two years, including consenting, design and construction.
If we choose to forget about the pedestrian and cycling options, we will just focus on getting the pipelines across the river. This would likely involve drilling under the river at Maitland Street.
Trenching directly through the river is not favoured as it’s unproven under current legislation. We are not aware of any other similar projects where trenching has been used to install a pipe across a river like the Mataura.
It’s a tough call and whatever we pick will involve more technical investigations.
Before we go any further, we want to know if people want a walking and cycling bridge across the river. Or do you simply want the water just to get where it needs to go?
Drilling under the river means:
- It’s the shortest route from the East Gore treatment plant to the Jacobstown Wells
- It is less likely to be susceptible to flood damage
- There’s an unknown degree of difficulty therefore risk of significant cost increase
- It doesn’t add to Gore’s lifestyle values
- There would be no co-funding potential
- It wouldn’t need a publicly notified resource consent
- Estimated cost to the Council: $3.6m to $4.1m
While each bridge option has different pros and cons (we talk about these later), there are some common factors.
These include:
- It will add to the town’s amenity values
- It will provide a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the river
- It will be built to higher specifications than the existing traffic and railway bridges
- It will take longer to complete than drilling under the river
- It is estimated to cost more than drilling
- It’s likely to require a notified resource consent
Information on each of the four bridge options can be found under the 'bridge options' tab below. Please familiarise yourself with these options before completing the feedback form. To view these bridge options on a map, click on the map tab below or follow this link - Go to map
Have your say!
To provide your feedback, please select from the following options:
Online: Select the 'Provide feedback' tab below to get started.
Hard copy: Print the 'Feedback form' from our document library, complete and return it to us by:
- Emailing it to: Info@goredc.govt.nz
- Delivering it by hand to: Our main office at 29 Bowler Avenue, Gore
- Dropping it off at: One of our drop-in sessions
In-person: Join us at one of our drop-in sessions listed on this page.
Consultation closes at 5:00pm Friday 21 April 2023
