Wellington City Councillors have scrapped a previous vote to bowl the City to Sea Bridge. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Wellington City Councillors have scrapped a previous vote to bowl the City to Sea Bridge. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The capital’s City to Sea Bridge has been saved from demolition for now, with Wellington City Councillors binning a previous vote to pull it down.
The decision comes despite many councillors stating their dislike for the quake-prone structure, with one labelling it “the ugliest thing in the city”.
Demolition wasimminent prior to the election, with the bridge fenced off to the public, but the barricades were removed ahead of the Government’s earthquake prone building regulation changes, which impact the level of work needed on the bridge and adjoining Capital E building.
Those behind a campaign to save the bridge are celebrating the move, optimistic it will “put this sorry saga to bed once and for all” and allow the bridge to be saved.
But today’s vote does not mean demolition fully is off the table, with the council set to reassess the structure’s future early next year.
The council’s estimated cost to repair the bridge earlier ranged from $86-$120 million, compared with $36 million for demolition of the bridge and surrounding structures.
New rules have changed the costs and councillors will be given updated advice in February on options for saving the bridge.
Deputy Mayor Ben McNulty said on social media that initial suggestions show it might even be cheaper to save the bridge, with between $10-$20 million possible savings if council kept it rather than demolishing it.
She said the bridge was safe, iconic, and “unique in the world” with its special, sculptured architecture.
“This hasn’t been a fluke, this was nine months of hard work full-time, pro bono trying to educate a barrister on the vagaries of Wellington City Council,” Ritchie said to councillors in a meeting of the City Strategy and Delivery Committee this morning.
Wellington's City to Sea Bridge, a pedestrian bridge and public artwork connecting Civic Square to the waterfront. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Committee chair, councillor Nureddin Abdurahman, put forward the notice of motion of revocation which was supported by a majority of councillors.
Many noted while they did not personally like the bridge, they supported saving it.
Councillor Tony Randle said the bridge was “probably the ugliest thing in the city”.
Poiwi Liz Kelly said “it is not particularly pretty, but I do think it is an icon of Wellington.”
Abdurahman said he used to think the bridge was “a bit ugly” but changed his tune after recently having his photograph taken there and liking the photo.
McNulty said it was impractical and as a father pushing a pram in the area, he avoids it.
Only Green Party Councillors Rebecca Matthews and Geordie Rogers opposed the motion, as well as iwi representatives Kelly and Holden Hohaia.
Matthews said while she is “very open” to changing her position on the bridge in the future, it is not the right time.
She said it was not right to make a decision before advice had been received on alternative options, and when details of earthquake legislation are not yet fully known.
“Circumstances have not changed, they are changing.”
Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.
