Signing off the second Ashburton bridge business case headlines a big day at the Ashburton District Council tomorrow.
It is a jam-packed agenda for the sitting councillors to work through, which has the meeting starting two hours earlier.
The second bridge is the big ticket item, but the councillors will also be looking at the Baring Square East landscape plans, where the $1.7m of extra road funding goes, the Lakes Camp and Clearwater 30-year Plan 2022, and plenty more.
First up the council will be presented with proposed landscape plans for Baring Square East to be approved so they can go out for tender.
The project is separate too, but in conjunction with, the construction of the new library and civic centre.
Then, ater reviewing the findings of the 2021-22 annual residents’ survey, the council will be presented with a detailed business case for the second bridge.
Once it is signed off by the council, mayor Neil Brown plans to hand deliver it to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson in Wellington.
The business case will then be assessed by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency before a decision on if the project receives funding to be placed in the next National Land Transport Plan will be made.
In May, Brown met with Robertson who assured the mayor there was funding in the budget for the second bridge.
The council has budgeted to contribute $7.5m to the project and Waka Kotahi’s contribution is likely to be 62 per cent, leaving an estimated $36m shortfall which the council hopes the Government will cover.
The roading theme continues into where the council allocates the additional $1.7m of unsubsidised funding.
The council will also consider delaying adding the late payment penalty to the first rates instalment after delays in the invoices being delivered.
The draft Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater 30-year Plan will be adopted for consultation as will a draft stormwater bylaw and draft climate resilience plan.
The council will also consider options for how the Rangitata Camping Ground will be operated in the future.
A report will also be tabled outlining options for the council around its current non-compliances on three water race intake consents regarding fish screens.

• By Jonathan Leask