Bombing platform 'safe solution' for Turanganui River

BOMBS AWAY: A proposed bombing platform as presented to the Future Tairawhiti committee. Picture supplied

A “BOMBING” platform extending out into the Turanganui River and located between the courthouse and the railway bridge has been recommended as the best way of safely maintaining a decades-old “rite of passage” for Gisborne young people.

Edwina Ashwell, Gisborne District Council communications advisor, presented the proposal from a bombing platform working group to the Future Tairawhiti committee.

She was surprised that youth groups “loved” the proposal despite it being significantly lower than the railway bridge used by numerous divers.

They would be able to do 20 “snaps’’ in half an hour compared to two bombs from the railway bridge in the same time, she said.

But Graeme Thomson described the proposal as a gold-plated scheme based on a part of the river that was muddy “half of the time”.

Dredging an optionMs Ashwell said dredging was an option.

The only other locations where jumping/bombing was possible more often was in the middle of the river, she said.

The concept presentation did not include estimated costs or dimensions of the platform. Ms Ashwell said an engineer had described the proposal as structurally viable.

She said “bombing’’ was more than ‘‘part of our culture”, it was a rite of passage. A bylaw would be difficult to enforce.

Asking people not to jump, was in her opinion, not the right question. There had been stories of near misses with other river users, vitriol in social media and there had been tension between jumpers and boat users in the inner harbour.

A community solutionA community solution for safe jumping was required, she said.

There had been meetings and “engagement” with police, boat owners, Eastland Port, Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing club and youth groups.

A working group was formed in May and looked at various sites. The inner harbour was unsafe with boat users as were the Gladstone Road Bridge and the William Pettie Bridge because of visibility issues with people in the river below jumpers.

The railroad bridge was the safest location currently being used, but there were issues when steam locomotive WA 165 was in operation. Jumpers refused to clear the bridge, and there had been instances of jumpers climbing on to the locomotive.

Ms Ashwell said the proposed jumping platform could be extended further out into the Turanganui River. Waka ama used the other side of the river.

The proposal featured a diving board, slide and rope, and had a family area. There were steps on both sides of the platform to provide quick access. The concept would be part of the Navigations Project and was based on a similar design to one in Opotiki.

Chief executive Judy Campbell said the concept was located where it was to allow families to watch their children dive. Ms Ashwell said the concept was about providing “positive space around our rivers”. It would not stop people jumping off the bridges.

Pat Seymour suggested fencing be erected as on the bridge in Whakatane.

Mrs Campbell said she had seen children clinging off the bottom of the fenced-off Whakatane bridge.

“Kids will do what kids do,’’ she said.