The Dunedin City Council has included $20 million in its draft 10-year plan for an architecturally designed walking and cycling bridge as part of the city to waterfront connection project.
While no specific design is mentioned in the option to be presented to councillors, the bridge designed by Damien van Brandenburg as part of his vision for the redevelopment of the Steamer Basin was mentioned in the report prepared by the council’s group manager of community and planning Nicola Pinfold.
Mr van Brandenburg provided the council with a quantity surveyor estimate of the construction costs for his bridge design and associated amenities, which is what the $20 million was based on.
Two other options were explored in the report.
If the council decided on a basic design for the bridge or made upgrades to the Jetty St overbridge it would cost between $6 million and $10 million.
Ms Pinfold noted an underpass had been explored and reviewing work had been done on the option but it had not progressed any further. If the council chose to do nothing then there would be no cost.
Of the $20 million budgeted for the bridge, the council was likely to contribute about $14.5 million, with the NZ Transport Agency contributing the rest.
But it was possible other stakeholders and community funders would also contribute up to $6 million, the report stated.
Mr van Brandenburg was pleased the council had included an "ambitious" design in its budget and looked forward to the public having its say on the proposal.
"What it really shows is the council is really looking out for the future generations of Dunedin and really looking how they can best advance the city forward for our grandchildren."
Access to the Steamer Basin from the city was the most important part of the vision for the area, Mr van Brandenburg said.In her report, Ms Pinfold said the bridge was a key element to opening up the harbourside area by connecting it directly with the rest of the city.
In addition to encouraging the redevelopment of the waterfront, a new or improved connection also benefited the nearby warehouse precinct and other land use changes in the Queens Garden area, she said.
