2024 Infrastructure Strategy, issues 2-4

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Continuing on from yesterday, key infrastructure issue two of four in the council’s draft Infrastructure Strategy is “Meeting regulatory requirements and community’s expectations”, with estimated capital expenditure over the next three years of $18.5 million.

A Three Waters section includes $12.6m of work: DrainWise stormwater upgrades, $4.4m; Waingake native reversion programme, $5.8m (“green infrastructure” but a biodiversity project really, as only a small percentage will in future protect the city’s water pipeline); residential backflow prevention, $1.3m; Te Karaka wastewater land disposal, $900,000; initial works for Integrated Catchment Management Plans, $194,000.

Under solid waste: a resource recovery centre to help reduce waste going to landfill, $5m; future management of Waiapu landfill, $443,000; improvements to transfer stations, $140,000; closed landfill management, Paokahu, $36,000.

Under community facilities, there is $255,000 for street tree planting and $55,000 for dune care.

Key issue three is “Future-ready infrastructure”, with total investment over the next three years of $24m.

This includes $2.3m continuing the township upgrades programme (with $492,000 of external funding); $1.78m on roading and footpath improvements in rural townships; and $49,000 for remaining work on the development of Waihirere Domain.

Here’s an eyebrow-raiser: Kiwa Pools — outdoor pool, $6.5m, “enhanced offering . . . improved recreation experience and improved water safety”. And one many will be pleased to see: revitalisation of the CBD, $2.5m, joint project with Trust Tairāwhiti, community engagement to come but “it is likely to include streetscaping, a fresh look and feel, and planting”. There is also $500,000 pencilled in for a city centre multi-modal gap analysis.

Taruheru River walkway and cycling extension to Campion, $3.27m.

Enabling further greenfield development of the Taruheru block: $6.1m on three waters infrastructure, including extension of water supply reticulation and an upgrade of the Campion Road pump station and rising main; $722,000 for road links.

And some more for three waters: $100,000 for initial work on a Kaiti wastewater pump station and rising main, to enable further residential growth in the area; $200,000 on initial work for a Grey Street wastewater pump station; and $263,000 on initial work to replace the Ormond Road pump station, plus a new pump station and dedicated supply mains to the Knob Hill water reservoir (the latter two projects are both to “maintain existing service, accommodate growth, and allow increased capacity”).

Key issue four is “Affordability”, with no additional itemised expenditure.