Bureaucracy bashed over broken bridges

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 622, 6 February 1996, Page 1

Bureaucracy bashed over broken bridges

Areport by Ruapehu District's roads officer came in for a scath ing attack by Waimarino Community Board member Gary Rawnsley during a discussion last Thursday on whether the council should maintain three Waimarino swing bridges. The board recommended that the council maintain three bridges: the swing bridge on the Mangawhero River between Mangawhero Terrace and River Road in Ohakune; the 'Roaring Meg' bridge on Mangaroa Road off Crotons Road; and 'Meyers Bridge' off Pukekaha Road. All provide public walking access. Mr Rawnsley described a report from

roads asset manager Jim Moore as "totally inadequate". He said the costs for repairs to the Roaring Meg Bridge on Mangaroa Road in the Ruatiti Valley were "absurd". Mr Moore estimated that it would cost $ 1 1 ,000 to repair the bridge, $6000 to remove it or $15,000-$30,000 to replace it. Mr Rawnsley said he knew of a person who would remove it for nothing if necessary, and estimated the repair cost to be between $500 and $1000. He said the intention of the high estimates "may be to make us shy away from our responsibilities". Council engineer Bruce Dobson deTurn to Page 2

Bureaucracy bashed over broken bridges

FR0MPAGE1 fended the report saying they were estimates that took into account safety leg-

islation. He said more accurate costs would require engineering inspection and de-

sign work which would cost $2000-$3000. It would take a day for an engineer to visit the bridge, he added.

It was revealed that Mr Moore had not viewed the bridge. "I consider that to be incompetence," said Mr Rawnsley. "It's a hell of a long way from anywhere," said Mr Dobson. "It's hardly prime access. It' s a walking track. I believe the council should focus on providing primary access for people' s livelihood, not for recreational purposes." "Once bridges like these disappear we will never get them back," said board chairman Colin Webb. Mr Rawnsley said bureaucracy was preventing the sensible and practical repair of the bridges. "I understand Garry's point of view," said member Robert Horne, "but we've also got Cave Creek hanging over our heads. We've got to meet (Occupational Safety & Health Act) standards."

Mr Rawnsley said it was the costs that concerned him. He said the engineer was already employed by the council and paid for by ratepayers, butthat ratepayers were being asked to pay for his time again. Meyer's Bridge Orautoha resident Winston Oliver called on the council to maintain, at its expense, the Meyer's Bridge to his property off Pukekaha Road. He cited the council' s mission statement which says the council will promote a positive environment that encourages growth and ensure the provision of essential services, adding that the bridge provided stock access to his farm (as well as anglers' access to reaches of the Manganui a Te Ao River). "If you do away with this bridge you are not meeting those goals," he claimed. "If people who li ve on tar sealed roads couldn't get out of their driveway because someone had dug up the road they'd be down here very quickly to complain," said Mr Rawnsley. "Maybe we should get a bit militant."

Ohakune bridge The board heard that the bridge across the Mangawhero River had already been repaired. However, board member Doug Bennett asked if the bridge was necessary. "The children can walk around (to the town)," he said, adding that people

could also drive around. "School children sometimes haven't got licences to drive," quipped fellow member John Compton. At the end of the discussion, Mr Rawnsley' s additional motion to recommend that the council review its rural bridges policy was passed.