GDC’s infrastructure plans for recovery

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

Opinion

Public consultation on the council’s draft 2024 Infrastructure Strategy opens on March 20 and runs through to April 19. Normally a 30-year strategy, this one is for just three years and it is geared towards cyclone recovery and building resilience.

The strategy focuses on four key infrastructure issues, with “recovery” from the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle  and other recent severe weather events up first — with a “most-likely scenario” programme of work estimated to cost $270 million. It is itemised in the draft strategy (summarised) as follows:

Waipaoa Flood Control  Scheme, including additional work to protect Category 2 properties, $29.67m. (As reported on Saturday, an $18m central government funding application to complete construction works was approved last month.)

Flood resilience projects for rural and city areas to protect Category 2 properties, $20.64m. Te Karaka flood control scheme, $14.2m.

Remediation to address asbestos contamination on reserve land at two sites caused by the reopening of historical landfills, $600,000; land stability projects in parks, reserves, tracks and trails, $1m — including Titirangi, Makorori headland and Whataupoko reserve; urban cemetery works focused on planning for capacity and gravesite levelling due to slumping during 2023 severe weather events, $1.1m.

Roading and footpath emergency works, $105m — non-Crown infrastructure budget mahi needed to rebuild the local transport network.

Major works that are fully funded by Crown Infrastructure Partners include eight bridge replacements (Burgess, Hangaroa, Hollywood, Grays, Mangatai, Mata/Huiarua, Pauariki, St Ledgers) $21m; five bridge repairs and addressing scouring at 43 bridges, $16m; work to address slips, dropouts and river erosion affecting the road network, $5m; Tiniroto Road work, $20m over the three years of a project expected to cost $45m in total; roadside drainage repairs and renewals, $21m.

Heritage landfill remediation, $2.35m; and (drum roll here) a new landfill — $3.5m for investigation, design and planning, land purchase, consent and initial construction (estimated total cost $10m).

Urban stormwater resilience, $2.05m; Sang Dam slump remedial works investigation, $310,000; integrity project for Waingake dams, $1.3m; projects to ensure water source resilience to minimise potential for climatic impacts, $1.5m; resilience projects for the water pipeline from source to city, $3m; adding an infiltration gallery supply line to the Waipaoa Treatment Plant to ensure continuity of supply during times of flooding/high river levels, $1.25m.