The Queenstown Lakes District Council is seeking consent to replace the ‘‘no longer fit for purpose’’ bridge over the flood-prone Grandview Creek to maintain access along the Gladstone Track along the margin of Lake Hāwea.
Upper Clutha Tracks trustee Tom Rowley, who installed the original bridge six years ago, said he was concerned about the money that could be spent on replacing the bridge.
‘‘I think they could lift up the bridge and put longer beams under it and safeguard it that way.
‘‘Replacing it sounds like an extensive operation.
‘‘They could do a relatively safe job by just lifting the present bridge up, making the bridge and the bank safe from being washed underneath, and save a bit of money while they’re at it,’’ he said.
‘‘People walking along were so delighted to see it going in, that creek would become a problem in the winter,’’ he said.
The original bridge was installed via helicopter costing $1000 for one load.
A council spokesman said when considering options for projects like this it was mindful of balancing the cost of maintaining/improving existing assets against the cost of replacement.
‘‘In this case, building code and consenting means that retrofitting the existing bridge is not feasible.
‘‘The proposed replacement would be a fit-for-purpose, long-term solution ...’’
The resource consent application states the new bridge and concrete will both need to be taken to the site by helicopter due to the narrow terrain.
The work was expected to require 30 flights across 25 days.
Gladstone Track forms part of the Te Araroa network.
