Ashburton council's chief executive believes the impact of the historic May floods on the district’s roading network has been underestimated. “It wasn’t just a shower of rain.”
The fear of further hold-ups and the carrot of central government funding was enough to sway Ashburton's councillors as second-bridge plans forge ahead.
Congestion figures reignite funding hopes for second Ashburton bridge stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The plans have endured a long and frustrating existence since the Canterbury earthquakes caused irreparable damage to the old Lancaster Park which was demolished in 2019. There has been consideration of neighbouring councils including Selwyn and Waimakariri stumping up a funding alongside Environment Canterbury over the past few years for a project that at one point was estimated to cost more than half a billion dollars.
Carys Monteath/Stuff
Ashburton District Council chief executive Hamish Riach says an international stadium would be enjoyed by more than just those living in the city where it was located. Hamish Riach, who was the Crusaders boss for 17 years before taking on the chief executive role at the Ashburton District Council three years ago, confirmed there had been no approach or formal discussion around funding of the planned facility.