Proposal to bring Bridge to Better project forward

Nelson City Council is proposing to bring forward some work on the Bridge to Better project to minimise disruption to city centre businesses and make the most of current construction market prices to get better value for the ratepayer.

Construction work on Bridge Street, the Paru Paru wastewater pumpstation upgrade, and a new Paru Paru Road carpark is still planned to commence in 2026. Work to upgrade the St Vincent Street stormwater culvert will get started in 2025 as planned.

However, parts of the project, which aims to create the capacity for hundreds of city centre homes with upgrades to three waters and transport infrastructure, are now planned to commence in 2025 with work starting early on the water ring main along Halifax, Collingwood and Bridge Street (between Collingwood Street and Queens Gardens) and the installation of a new floodgate at Saltwater Creek.

“We want to take advantage of a buoyant contractor market to get going on this vital project. Splitting the work into two stages will mean less disruption for the city centre as a whole in 2026 and provide local contractors with an economic boost a little earlier than expected,” says Group Manager Infrastructure Alec Louverdis.

To start this work in 2025, $4.2m of budget from the years 2025/26 and 2026/27 will need to be brought forward to this financial year.

Louverdis says moving the work forward is integral to the City’s revitalisation package.

“Alongside the new playspace at Rutherford Park and the upgrade of our Marina, these projects will expand our connection from the city to the sea, bring more people to our city centre and are strong signals to the market that Nelson is open for investment and development.”

Elected members will be asked to approve this proposal in the Council meeting held on 10 October.