Hari Hari bridge fears dismissed

Fears a lifeline to South Westland communities along State highway 6 could be cut off "in a flash" by the Wanganui River have been dismissed by the NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi).

Hari Hari locals and the West Coast Regional Council are worried the southern approach to the single-lane Wanganui River bridge on State highway 6 is being compromised as the river cuts in near the southern abutment.

However, NZTA says it is keeping a close watch and is "satisfied" no additional work is needed at this stage.

Adjoining south bank farmer Jon Sullivan said they had unsuccessfully tried to engage with NZTA in the past two years about the problem.

"Over two years ago we were doing rockwork up to the bottom of the bridge and we approached (NZTA) on several occasions to work in with us," Sullivan said.

But nothing had happened and the scouring had got "worse and worse".

He said it was indicative of a short-sighted approach to infrastructure that was being seen all across the country.

"Everything seems to wait until it's busted out and it's an emergency, and the contractors come out," Sullivan said.

"There's no maintenance. Us silly b*****ds living here take all the consequences... basically, all our regions are under this strategy of getting nothing done."

The threat could have been mitigated for "a pittance" instead of the inevitable when the river blew the bank out.

"Now it's got bigger... the Hari Hari community have sent a letter to [NZTA], who have recommended they aren't going to do anything. Nothing has happened and it's getting worse," Sullivan said.

Regional council acting operations manager Colin Munn told the Wanganui Rating District committee last week management had voiced their concern about three weeks ago.

"They said they weren't worried about it. That doesn't change our concern that rock-line that stretches from their bridge is being peeled away," Munn said.

Proactive, not reactive

Council acting chairman Peter Haddock, a former river protection contractor, said he had looked at it and it really was a worry.

"The locals have seen it before and say (the river) could easily get in there. NZTA need to be proactive rather than reactive - that's been proven up north. I do understand it is about the money but local knowledge means a lot," Haddock said.

"It will be in there in a flash... that bridge approach has been washed out previously and people are worried. It definitely concerned me when I went and had a look."

He intended to raise it with the West Coast Regional Transport Committee.

"I understand the locals - they live there and they need bridge security."

Munn said the agency was restricted in its funding formula for such matters.

"They wait until there is a problem to fix it. We've had the conversation, they've confirmed they're not concerned about it from the bridge point of view."

NZTA West Coast maintenance contract manager Moira Whinham said they were monitoring the bridge "closely".

"We are satisfied at this time that there is still at least 20m of existing ground to the bridge abutment - ie. that is not associated with the bridge structure - and there is no additional river protection work required at the bridge at this time."

Benefit to those living near was not necessarily a consideration in the agency's approach to the bridge security.

The agency's role was "to maintain and protect" state highway assets including bridges and drainage systems.

"While other parties like nearby landowners may benefit from the work that we do, it is not necessarily a driver to initiate work."

At the same time, Ms Whinham said the regional council was accountable for its own rating district assets including their protection wall above the bridge, but she did not elaborate on whether the two might interlink.

In January 2013 the Wanganui bridge was closed for more than five days after the river caused $1 million of damage to the northern approach.

Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.