Councils contacted by the Otago Daily Times reported a mixed bag in terms of projects making the short-list of 802 which the Infrastructure Industry Reference Group whittled down from 1924 projects submitted nationwide, and has presented to cabinet ministers Shane Jones and Phil Twyford for consideration.
Invercargill City Council chief executive Clare Hadley said four of the five projects the council submitted for consideration had been put forward for the next part of the process.
They were the inner city redevelopment ($242.6million); Invercargill flood protection and stopbanks ($22.7million, a joint application with Environment Southland); security of Invercargill and Bluff water supply ($15.8million); and a civic building renewal programme ($15.6million).
An $11.7million Bluff master plan, which did not make the cut, has instead been put forward for consideration under the Provincial Growth Fund model.
Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips said applications for funding for stopbank improvement works in the Gore, Mataura and Wyndham townships had been given approval to progress for further consideration, as had work for Boundary Creek, near Waimumu.
‘‘Of our applications, only the proposed work on the Waiau River is not progressing to the next stage.
‘‘We’re hopeful and incredibly grateful that so many of our projects are being considered further.
‘‘They amount to a considerable amount of investment that would take us much longer to be able to progress without this opportunity for Government funding.’’
Two of the Gore District Council's 10 submitted projects made the shortlist.
They are two of the largest projects, the Gore and Mataura water treatment ($23million) and the Manaaki eco-village ($10million).
A spokeswoman said the council was ‘‘happy and cautiously optimistic’’ to have the projects go forward for Government support.
‘‘However, you have to temper that with the fact there are 802 projects nationwide.’’
It was ‘‘mildly disappointed’’ some of its smaller projects did not make the cut, but remained hopeful some might prove attractive to the Provincial Growth Fund.
Southland District Council chief executive Steve Ruru said
the council was pleased four of its projects had made it through to the next stage.
‘‘The four projects that have proceeded to the next stage are the Monowai bridge replacement, Te Anau wastewater membrane filter, drinking water reticulation renewals and stormwater renewal works.’’
