The Waitaki District Council's assets committee yesterday approved a recommendation, to go to a council vote on February 17, for a single-span 17m bridge, which could be used by both pedestrians and cars.
Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said the old pedestrian bridge, condemned as unsafe due to rot in December 2014, was last week demolished at a cost of $20,000 as prescribed in the 2015-16 annual plan's work programme.
The concrete bridge with weathered timber trusses salvaged from the Kurow Bridges project proved more popular at the meeting than a $10,000-cheaper timber suspension bridge, championed yesterday by Cr Jim Hopkins.
He said the suspension bridge would have the highest amenity value and that it would ‘‘complement that part of the harbour area perfectly''.
Cr June Slee said the trusses from Kurow affixed to the concrete bridge were culturally significant and ‘‘very appealing''.
The concrete bridge gathered more support at the meeting as it would be capable of carrying cars, if required, in future and was therefore the most ‘‘future-proof''.
Although there were no roads in use on either side of the proposed bridge, legal unformed roads end at both the north and south banks of the creek.
The report to the asset committee noted the importance the bridge had in keeping the north bank of Oamaru Creek connected to the historic precinct and Friendly Bay.
The Friendly Bay reserve on the south bank of the creek would soon be developed to include a children's bike skills park and increased waterfront parking.
