Ashburton’s new bridge a done deal, except for the dollars
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It’s all good to go but who’s going to pay for it?
That still remains the big unknown for the second Ashburton/Hakatere River Bridge after the Government confirmed it would be part of its $32.9 billion plan for New Zealand’s transport network over the next three years.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has unveiled the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), which focuses on more state highways, road maintenance, and greater public transport in the country's main cities with a 35% increase in funding compared to the last three years.
He said it includes plans to work with Ashburton District Council to progress the second Ashburton Bridge as a road of regional significance.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said having it included in the transport plan "cements that the project will go ahead”.
"We will be getting our second bridge.
"It’s a tremendous achievement for all that have been involved in it over the last 15 years.
"Hopefully we’ll have it (funding and timeline) sorted in the next few months.”
But the big question remains on how constructing the 360-metre-long bridge across the Ashburton/Hakatere River, and associated new road infrastructure to link it to the existing network, will be funded.
That in a cheeky way was put to Rangitata MP James Meager when he presented an update to the council on the Government’s work programme.
Mayor Brown welcomed him with a tongue-in-cheek quip that Meager is "a busy man no doubt, getting funding for bridges etc”.
The commitment to get the bridge started in this term of Government is unchanged, Meager said.
Whether it comes from tax, rates, or user pays, someone ends up paying for it, he said.
"It sits with the council and NZTA now to have those conversations and discussions about what the funding mix is.”
What being a road of regional significance means for the NZTA contribution also remains to be seen but Meager suggested it could result in "an uplift” of the Government’s contribution from the minimum 51%.
Council chief executive Hamish Riach confirmed that they had already applied to the Government’s regional infrastructure fund, while Mayor Brown said they have put in for a fast-track consent for the project.
The council included $7.5m for the second bridge in its long-term plan and was aware that figure may not be enough.
Being included in the plan guarantees at least the minimum 51% funding from NZTA as costing of $113m, based on the 2022 business case, but that estimate is now closer to $130m.
At the $113m price tag, NZTA’s 51% contribution ($56.6m) and the council’s $7.5m (6.7% of the total cost) leaves a shortfall of $48.9m.
How that funding gap is bridged has been a focus for some time and will need to be finalised soon.
"We have been working with NZTA for a while now around how that might work, and those discussions are well advanced,” Brown said.
***More than a bridge
The bridge was the big Mid Canterbury project in the Government’s transport plan but wasn’t the only one.
There is a planned asphalt upgrade for the SH1 Ashburton – SH77 junction to the Ashburton Bridge.
The section of the road will be dug out and re-asphalted to cater for heavy traffic use.
Safety improvements will be designed for the Selwyn River to Ashburton stretch of SH1.
There will also be a rockfall fence in the Rakaia Gorge along SH77 on the south side of the river to protect motorists and the highway, and to give reliable journey times.
Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!
The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.
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88.5% Yes, it's fair
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10.8% No, it's unreasonable
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0.7% Other - I'll share below
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Ashburton booze rules described as ‘fair and firm’ amid calls for change
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Health experts are calling on councils to set tougher restrictions on alcohol sales to reduce potential harm, including cutting the hours that booze can be sold.
But Ashburton District’s recently updated restrictions are “fair and firm”, the council says.
Ashburton's bars, restaurants and taverns can sell alcohol until 2am, while supermarkets and bottle stores can sell booze until 9.30pm.
Health Coalition Aotearoa alcohol expert panel co-chairperson Steve Randerson has called for local leaders to curb the availability of alcohol.
Currently, the combined opening hours of bars, bottle stores and supermarkets allow people to buy alcohol 21 hours a day in some regions.
“If you can reduce the hours, you can then reduce the harm,” Randerson said.
The Ashburton District Council reviewed its local alcohol policy last year, and won’t review it again until 2029.
Compliance and development group manager Ian Hyde said the council went through a robust process to ensure the restrictions were strong enough and met community expectations.
“Given the high level of engagement from the community during consultation in 2023 that fed into the development of the policy, we believe it is fair and firm in addressing local alcohol matters.”
The consultation received 42 submissions and seven submitters spoke at the public hearing in August last year.
The council amended the policy, aligning the cut-off time for licensed footpath areas with the one-way door restriction. A further 32 submissions were received, with three submitters speaking at a hearing in November.
The policy was adopted in December and the new trading hours and the district-wide 1am one-way door restriction came into effect on March 14.
Randerson commended the Ashburton council for having limits shorter than the national trading hours in its policy.
“There is room to do more but it does need to come down to local circumstances.
“It’s important that their policies are consulted upon and reflect what the community is witnessing and calling for.”
Hyde said there are 117 licensed premises in the Ashburton District, and of those, there are 22 in the Ashburton CBD.
The policy sets specific maximum hours of operation for premises.
Taverns, including hotel bars, can sell and supply alcohol from 7am until 2am, but the footpath areas close at 1am, with restaurants and cafes trading hours capped at 1am.
Off-licensed premises, bottle stores and supermarkets, have a cut-off time of 9.30pm.
The policy also states that the District Licensing Committee has the discretion to set more restrictive maximum trading hours than prescribed in the LAP.
The council also adopted an updated alcohol control bylaw last year, which extended the liquor ban areas in Ashburton and Methven.
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