Construction of Campbells Bay stream footbridge has commenced

Construction is underway to provide a footbridge over the only stream in the East Coast Bays area without an all tide, all weather crossing. The new footbridge over the Campbells Bay stream is a project that many in the local community have been asking for, for well over ten years. It has been a regular item on the Campbells Bay Residents and Ratepayer Assn’s annual meeting agenda during this period.

“The new footbridge will assist the many thousands of people in the area who enjoy beach walks, and will particularly assist the elderly and young families.” says North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams. “It will provide a safe link over what is often an unpredictably wide or fast flowing stream to connect the beach with the Huntly Reserve children’s playground, public toilets and changing rooms.”

“This project to provide a footbridge was included in the adopted 2004 Campbells Bay Management Plan. A large amount of consultation has been carried out on this project, both through the Management Plan statutory process and with the inclusion of the project for six years through the Long Term Community Council Plan, and finally through the notified Resource Consent hearing that was undertaken. This walkway also forms part of the Te Araroa national walkway and the Eastern Green Corridor as outlined in Council’s Parks Strategy.” says Mayor Williams.

The bridge designs were publicly tendered and the winning tender was won by HEB LTD for an amount of $243,000. The cost of the bridge structure itself is $123,000 with the remainder for the works required on the surrounding seawall. This was always intended to be completed as part of ongoing seawall renewals to further protect the adjacent reserve areas.

The bridge designs that were tendered, which were carefully developed to ensure minimal visual impact on the beach landscape, with a steel superstructure and wooden finish on top, were presented and agreed upon as part of the negotiations with the Campbell's Bay Protection Group through the Environment Court.

" I have been a long time supporter of this great community project. I’m very pleased it will be completed within the term of my Mayoralty and am looking forward to proudly opening the bridge as one of my last duties as Mayor of North Shore City ".

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