NZTA takes another look at old Kopu Bridge

The fate of the old Kopu Bridge still hangs in the balance as the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) engages a consultant on historic structures and engineering to examine what is required to retain the structure.

"The Transport Agency wants to be sure that Thames-Coromandel District Council, the Historic Kopu Bridge Society, and the local community are aware of the long-term engineering and funding requirements required to maintain the structure, which we understand may have a lifespan of 500 years," says NZTA's Hamilton highways manager, Kaye Clark.

NZTA has also continued with its initial plan to demolish the bridge and expects to lodge the resource consents required to do this early next year.

"These consents can be put on hold if a suitable option to keep the old bridge intact is agreed upon," says Ms Clark.

Meanwhile, the position of our Council hasn't changed: "In principle we support the aim of the Historic Kopu Bridge Society of keeping the bridge intact, but this must be achieved at no risk or future cost to ratepayers," says Mayor Glenn Leach.

In October 2014, Council passed the following resolutions, which are still supported:

That a long-term transferrable resource consent for future demolition is successfully achieved by NZTA;
That there is certainty of operation, maintenance, and financial self-sustainability by an external management entity and;
That there is certainty on the adequacy of future demolition funding received from NZTA.
NZTA has said if the bridge is "deconstructed" the historic swing arm could be relocated, and possibly incorporated into a cycle trail or walkway with signboards to tell its story.

Another option NZTA has identified is to leave some spans on the eastern bank of the Waihou River as a pier.

NZTA wishes to divest itself of the structure because it is no longer part of the state highway network and the agency wants to either remove the bridge or vest it with a body that can manage it safely into the future.

"The Historic Kopu Bridge Society has been trying to secure external funding in order to meet the conditions in our resolution. They are a group of volunteers and their hard work is a testament to their passion for our local heritage," says Mayor Leach.

"But the Society must satisfy NZTA, iwi and our Council that they have a sound proposal to retain the old Kopu Bridge."

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