Unsafe council bridge to be upgraded by landowner

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 561, 8 November 1994, Page 5

Unsafe council bridge to be upgraded by landowner

The council should provide the materials to Bill Cornellius to upgrade the bridge on the old Mangatiti Road that provides access to his Ruatiti property, and he should do the work, supervised by the council. That is the recommendation of the Waimarino Community Board after debating the issue last Thursday. In passing the motion the board also asked to be notified of the cost of the materials. The bridge in question is on the line of a paper road and at present is not capable of carrying any load, according to Ruapehu District area south engineer Don Sattler. "In the event of (a) bridge being so unsafe that it would be dangerous for a person to cross it on foot then the

Council probably has little option but to demolish the bridge," said engineer Bruce Dobson in his report on the matter. He said if the bridge was upgraded by Mr Cornellius and inspected and found to be capable of a certain load, the council could then signpost the bridge to that effect. He said the road could be legally closed, at the bridge site, and the land and bridge given to the neighbouring landowners. Because the council is responsible for public safety on the bridge as it is on the paper road line, it had to act on reducing the risk to the public. Options open were: to Turn to Page 11

Bridge unsafe FR0MPAGE5 demolish the bridge; to rebuild the bridge at a cost of $500,000; to erect signs advising that the bridge was closed. The board heard that signs were often removed from the bridge. Board members Winstone Oliver and Ray Berry said they did not want to see the bridge demolished. Mr Berry said such an idea would draw opposition from pig hunters and others, drawing the council into protracted debate. They said they favoured negotiating with Mr Cornellius regarding upgrading it for limited use.