Monday, Feb 24, 2020
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
Tanya signs off
Taming the Rakaia
P24
P2
Drought-breaker
FULL STORY
P4
Glimmer of bridge hope By Sue Newman
sue.n@theguardian.co.nz
Ashburton has become a national guinea pig in a roading trial that could give it an edge when it comes to securing a second bridge across the Ashburton River. The bridge has been on the council’s drawing board for several years, land has been designated and a funding commitment made
in the council’s long-term plan. The first step in the long process from drawing board to bridge opening was the preparation of a business case that would show the need for the bridge and would also secure funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency. A change in rules has meant a changed approach to building that business case. It must now be social principal based rather
than evidence based and that has meant delays because the council needed to change consultants. The new approach was one that was being trialled by the Government, with Ashburton’s bridge project being used as the national guinea pig, council service delivery manager Neil McCann said. “And this is great as it shows NZTA is as committed to this project as we are.”
The business case is about showing that the council could jump the hoops necessary to secure the funding it needed for the project, he said. In its long-term plan, the council decided it would pay 20 per cent of the cost of the bridge, council chief executive Hamish Riach said. “NZTA is very keen on this project to relieve pressure on state highway traffic and it’s like-
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ly they’ll give us 51 per cent, the same as our other roads, and then we’ll need to apply to the Provincial Growth Fund for the balance,” he said. The business case was to show that the need for the bridge was there and that the council could raise the money needed. “If the business case is not prepared, then the balance of the money will not come in.”
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