Isolated farmers hopeful of finally getting new bridge
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Clarence Valley farmers are hopeful they may finally get their bridge back, eight years after it was destroyed in an earthquake.
Steve and Shirley Millard have been waiting since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016 for the Glen Alton bridge to be restored over the Waiau Toa Clarence River, north of Kaikōura.
The couple has welcomed news that the Kaikōura District Council has asked its preferred contractor to investigate whether the bridge can be restored at the original site.
‘‘If they put it in the right place it has got a better chance of staying there,’’ Millard said.
The original location had rocks to protect the bridge, he said.
‘‘It would be nice to think they could get it done this summer so people can get on with their lives.’’
The Kaikōura District Council has applied to Environment Canterbury for a resource consent to build a $13.5 million bridge, 500m upstream from the previous bridge.
But the proposed site faces opposition from Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura due to cultural reasons.
The Millards were among several properties in the Clarence Valley, including forestry blocks, some large hill country properties and Department of Conservation land.
For now the only access in and out is via Waipapa Rd, Wharekiri Stream and a paper road through several properties.
But the Wharekiri Stream was prone to flooding in heavy rain events and could be impassable for up to two weeks.
Access is by four-wheel-drive only.
Millard said the couple had to postpone three trips to Australia over the last 7.5 years because they couldn’t get out.
‘‘And a few times we have been cut off from home.’’
Millard, who owns a digger and a bulldozer, has the job of maintaining the ford and the road, which is subject to several landslips.
Council chief executive Will Doughty said the Rūnanga has indicated it would support building the new bridge at the original site.
‘‘It is a logical site for a bridge, though not ideal for access.
‘‘One of the challenges is the access to the old site and getting through private property and we need to consider whether it is feasible and what the costs are.’’
Doughty said the council expected to receive a 50% design by the end of the month, which will give an indication of whether it is feasible to build the new bridge at the original site.
The project has been approved for a 95% subsidy from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, as part of its earthquake repairs.
But the funding has a sunset clause and needs to be completed by the end of next year.
Comment has been sought from Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
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75.1% It's questionable
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10.4% Other - I'll share below
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