New bridge designs divide public opinion

BY: DENISE PIPER

Concept designs for an iconic bridge across the Hatea River have met with a mixed reaction from Whangarei residents.

The Whangarei District Council recently released three preliminary designs for the bridge, based on the area's history and culture.

Done by landscape architects Littoralis, the designs reflect a waka's paddles, fishing nets on trees and whale bones.

The bridge, between Pohe Island and Port Rd, will be up to 300 metres long with a central lifting span for yachts, and three roundabouts.

The $34 million cost is to be shared by the council and NZ Transport Agency but the approximately $1m for decorative designs will be worn by the council.

Councillor Phil Halse says the project is an opportunity to provide a signature bridge in the area.

However, the final design will be up to the tenderer, he says.

Reactions to the designs have been mixed, with people on the street mostly supportive of the concepts while letters to the Whangarei Leader editor have been mostly against the designs.

Julia Boraston says she likes design one - waka paddles - the best.

Angie Bainbridge says she does not like design two - fishing nets - but likes either one or three - whale bones.

"I like design one, I would be happy with that."

Eunice Marriott says it gets interesting trying to get people to agree on designs.

"If they could make it different but safe that's fine."

She is not sure which design she likes best.

Alex Sawford likes design three but has concerns about the council's budget.

"It's not a bad design really. I think maybe they're going a bit over budget from the looks of it, they're trying to go too extravagant."

Jennifer Blanchard would prefer a plain bridge.

"I would pick design three if any of them but it's still a bit over the top."

But Harry Baker says in a letter that the new bridge will be the laughing stock of New Zealand.

"The first one looks like a prison, the second looks like my two-year-old grandson's pet hedgehog and the third one looks like a dinosaur."

Lesley Kelly wonders
what the designers were thinking.

"If the council wants to have an iconic structure, why have these ugly designs been produced?"

Mrs Kelly has concerns about the extra funding for embellishments.

The council applied for resource consents for the bridge with itself and the Northland Regional Council last week.

It aims to get consents by May then call for tenders shortly after, with the bridge being finished by September next year.

- © Fairfax NZ News