The Waikato District Council is pushing ahead with lining up approvals for its controversial project to replace the Kopua footbridge. This seems strange just before the local body elections when the Mayor and members of the Council will change.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the commission hearing the approvals for the bridge, the Commissioner running the footbridge hearing suggested the case be adjourned for six weeks so that WDC could bring a 100% application, rather than a rushed 95% application. WDC objected and he agreed to come back at 10am on Thursday, but he was clearly not impressed by the urgency seen by WDC.
Overnight Ngati Mahanga and WDC reached agreement and when the hearing reopened on Thursday, the Commissioner completed the hearing, but adjourned it in case he decides he wants to hear more evidence. He also gave a strong hint that a condition would be to avoid construction in summer.
Earlier in the week, the WDC Policy Committee approved spending the money on the bridge:11 Minutes: 13 September 2010 POL1009/10
Resolved: (His Worship the Mayor/Cr Hayes)
THAT the report of the General Manager Water and Facilities – Tender Evaluation for Contract No 10/010: Kopua Footbridge Replacement – dated 6 September be received;
AND THAT the tender submitted by HEB Structures in the sum of two million, six hundred and forty nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety dollars and thirty cents ($2,649,990.30), excluding GST, be approved and HEB Structures be selected as the preferred contractor until such time as the Resource Consents are granted and have not been appealed;
AND FURTHER THAT the approved contract sum be set at $2, 649. 990. 30.
CARRIED on the voices