Rail bridge a nightscape feature

It's an old steel truss bridge – functional rather than fussy. And all day it rumbles to the tune of the East Coast's main trunkline container traffic. Into the Port of Tauranga, out of the Port of Tauranga.

Then there's the people traffic – the cyclists and pedestrians trudging between the city and Matapihi, Bayfair and Arataki.


The Matapihi rail bridge.

But Tauranga City councillor Steve Morris has a finer appreciation of the structure – a 450 metre artistic installation – perhaps.

'It's a simple but spectacular idea that could create pride in being a citizen of Tauranga,” says the councillor for the Mount Maunganui-Papamoa ward.

'And in a way no new council office building could ever accomplish.”

The idea is to light the bridge at night, to transform a piece of dowdy working infrastructure into a waterfront feature. It's not Steve's idea but it's one that seems to be gathering momentum.

'I've found a similar-looking bridge in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the United States, which was lit up with LEDs a few years ago. It looks spectacular,” says the councillor.

Grand Rapids fussed up their bridge for about $300,000.

'That included strobe lights, but because Matapihi is a working bridge, it might not be practical.”


The bridge in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Fellow councillors Rick Curach and Bill Grainger appear to be on-board. They think it's an idea the community could get behind and fund.

It's an idea born from study. Helen Knight was looking for a project – something in the community she could improve – it was part of a Bachelor of Creative Industries degree.

'The bridge was dark, not very attractive and probably not very safe at night.” She came up with 'off the grid” wind and solar-powered pedestrian lights, murals and the full feature lighting.

Helen came up with the idea and Steve ran with it.

'You don't have to kill the ratepayer with debt or crippling lease payments to brighten up our city. And people shouldn't lose sight of the fact our city is greater than a few hectares downtown.

Rich is apparently trying to get Helen's idea beaming across the harbour. He approached TrustPower but they're fully committed with sponsorships at the moment.

Helen's thrilled her idea is gaining traction. 'Excellent.”

A glowing Matapihi rail bridge comes at an important time for the city. Because, says Steve, it would provide a balance to the expensive demands for an added $170 million of ratepayer funds to be spent on buildings in the CBD.

'We must be level-headed when it comes to pressure for a new council building, stadium and various other amenities. Because core infrastructure matters to us, especially if the tap doesn't run properly or sewage ends up in the harbour.”

He believes the bridge lighting proposal is of a more realistic size, and one he believes residents would support and take pride in.

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35 comments

Yes

Posted on 13-05-2016 11:03 | By FunandGames

I like it


Xmas Display ..

Posted on 13-05-2016 12:11 | By Rusty Kane

Great idea .. even if it's just over the Xmas holiday period .. might even be able to get Trust Power on board to sponsor the lights and power ..


Brilliant (literally)

Posted on 13-05-2016 12:29 | By penguin

A great idea and way better than the metal tree proposed for the Mount a while ago. The tourist potential would be greatly enhanced, especially when combined with the Hairy Maclary animals on the Strand. It would be a positive move.


Go For It

Posted on 13-05-2016 12:31 | By Alan Reynolds

I think it's a great idea and just needs the wind/solar power to run it for zilch!


Love this!

Posted on 13-05-2016 12:33 | By Mackka

Brilliant idea Helen :) Hope you can convince the council to run with this one Steve. Something tangible to spend some ratepayers money on - don't think many will object. Pity that Trustpower will not come to the party as they couldn't get better advertising! The airport may not be too happy with strobe lights though. Bring it on!


Yes from me too

Posted on 13-05-2016 12:37 | By doff

What a great idea. It would give a magical effect to the whole area at night. But - would Strobe lights affect aviation?


Bright Idea

Posted on 13-05-2016 12:51 | By peecee09

Would look fantastic Should be no problem with funding when you consider the following. The BOP Regional Council controls the harbour the bridge crosses.Many trains cross to and from the port every day. They also own over 50% of the Port which returns them about 35 Million dollars a year! Surely they are the best funding option.


Fund it by

Posted on 13-05-2016 12:56 | By Pamaxx

Too many citizens think council rates are the only source of funds. Try thinking outside the square,consider setting up a GiveaLittle site.Max Lewis Mt Maunganui


How Spectacular

Posted on 13-05-2016 13:12 | By slbennings

If its good enough for Grand Rapids - sure its good enough for Tauranga, great thinking Steve


Love the idea

Posted on 13-05-2016 14:01 | By Colleen Spiro

Maybe we could get TrustPower AND the Port of Tauranga to sponsor this for the city.


Thumbs up !

Posted on 13-05-2016 14:03 | By snowdrop

What a wonderful concept this is to illuminate the rail bridge. Something to stand out in Tauranga. A definite yes from me.


TECT

Posted on 13-05-2016 14:43 | By overit

Maybe Tect could help out. And Alan you have the cost of the wind/solar to be originally set up. Plus maintenance.


Rail bridge a nightscape feature

Posted on 13-05-2016 14:55 | By Robbie

I applaud this idea. It would be a great feature for Tauranga


bottomless pit

Posted on 13-05-2016 15:31 | By Captain Sensible

Yeah why not. The ratepayers are a bottomless pit of money for any scheme that anyone can dream up. How about a plane that flys over the Mount spraying water so that there is always a rainbow over the Mount?


The Bridge

Posted on 13-05-2016 15:35 | By Harr

What a good idea just do it councilors


And! and ! and!...

Posted on 13-05-2016 15:56 | By Watchdog

you could have frilly pink petticoats around the concrete supports and call it 'Ladybridge'!!! This is all just image. As long as Ratepayers don;t pay for it...fine!


@Pamaxx....

Posted on 13-05-2016 16:10 | By Jimmy Ehu

as Gareth did!!!, I agree with you and a great idea, bridges are vey cool under lights, I would definitely throw in an amount, and then maybe rates can be spent on getting decent infrastructure in place, all who contribute get a rates rebate maybe???.


Captain UnSensible

Posted on 13-05-2016 16:47 | By FunandGames

Where does anybody say council must fund this? You need to learn to dream, enjoy, and if enough people get behind this we can look at the funding options.


Great idea

Posted on 13-05-2016 18:52 | By snuffy

Great for the harbour restaurant too. This would be great to photograph - and would add so much beauty to Tauranga waterfront. Imagine the reflections...


@ Funandgames

Posted on 13-05-2016 21:44 | By Captain Sensible

Oh yeah, the fairy godmother will pay of course. Duh!


Givealittle page a great idea

Posted on 13-05-2016 21:54 | By Annalist

It's amusing to see people suggesting that maybe the Port or Trustpower might like to sponsor this. How about people dipping into their own pockets instead of the predicable someone else should do something. Givealittle would be the way to measure the true support


BUGGER OFF

Posted on 13-05-2016 22:42 | By The Caveman

Ratepayers PAY again for something that has TOTALLY NO BENEFIT for the ratepayers. TWO costs, first the set up - $100,000's of thousands (AND then the on going costs - $10,000's a year - probably $50,000 plus, for what BENEFIT to the ratepayers. TOTALLY NONE, ZIP, ZILCH, ZERO.... Just to make some council plonker look good.


Hmmmm

Posted on 14-05-2016 06:12 | By How about this view!

Once again another "Nice to have" ides from our ideas people. What about the MUST HAVE projects??? Such as suitable roading infrastructure so that the burgeoning population can move around the city smoothly and not sit in traffic jams. This won't change and will only get worse as the city grows.


Vandalism

Posted on 14-05-2016 07:56 | By putamadre

Great idea! BUT,......how will the vandals be stopped from defacing it with graffiti as it is presently?


Stop and think of this for a while

Posted on 14-05-2016 10:42 | By astex

I am the last person to advocate the use of ratepayer


@ iknow

Posted on 14-05-2016 11:13 | By Crash test dummies

Really? I don't mind the idea of it either, but what scares the heebeejeebees out of me is TCC "thinking" about it or anything for that matter. Really all that will come from it is higher rates and more debt all over the place.


Shine a light on the actual costings

Posted on 14-05-2016 11:42 | By Murray.Guy

As with most initiatives that attract the attention of Councillors, little thought is given to the 'actual and real costs, the actual and real benefits'. Be it an Art Gallery, lights for a cricket pitch, or a stadium on the Domain, the focus on meeting the initial upfront build costs and the potential for private benefactor, TECT or other non ratepayer funding is mostly just a diversion that invariably costs the ratepayer plenty. The 'whole of life cost' is usually the cost that impacts mostly on the struggling home owner, being the payee for ever and a day, meeting all costs associated with maintenance and repairs, depreciation and replacement, debt repayment. In the absence of any costing's I'll retain my priority on critical roading and stormwater infrastructure.


How about...

Posted on 14-05-2016 11:44 | By Me again

The community/ families buy a 1 meter by 1 meter for say $100.00 with name etched on Like buying your piece of the structure..just saying. My hands up!!


How about

Posted on 14-05-2016 12:46 | By Kenworthlogger

Council get in an expensive consultant to do a feasability study and then councillors can go on an overseas visit to The USA and other countries to see how they do it and when its all said and done it will cost $3 million dollars. Lol


Tourists

Posted on 14-05-2016 17:31 | By FunandGames

When the cruise ships leave at night, the last thing they will see and photograph will be the illuminated bridge and harbour. And their friends and potential visitors to Tauranga will see these photos. And the tourist brochures, and visitors dinning on the Strand will enjoy etc etc. What's the current logo, Tauranga Simply The best or similar, Downtown Tauranga Locals Love It. Isn't it about time it was true.


Murray Guy, consistency please?

Posted on 15-05-2016 13:59 | By Councillorwatch

How about adding Baypark and Speedway to your list of initiatives that could cost the ratepayer plenty? Just add up the cost of Council buying a Speedway business, injecting $5 million into Baypark, not to mention the cost of buying Baypark in the first place. Seems to me that happened when you were a councillor? I think councillors should put aside there own bias, preferences and sports when considering where rates money should go.


White Lightning would help ?

Posted on 19-05-2016 12:53 | By kellbell

Might look okay but cost is going to fall on ratepayers.What is the total cost and if TCC involved it will be a total shambles. Why don't our CAG philanthropists front with the dosh Would both sides of the rail bridge be lit up otherwise it is really quite pointless.Incidentally won't the Harbour Bridge block any view from the PORT.


Great Idea !!

Posted on 23-05-2016 13:56 | By carpedeum

Well done for suggesting this Councillor Morris- a very uplifting suggestion and something that gives Tauranga and The Mount a " Point of Difference" by enhancing an exising icon in this manner


Argh

Posted on 25-05-2016 18:01 | By overit

As must as I like the idea, the TCC has overspent by 7mill, so unless someone else coughs up, forget it!


Funandgames

Posted on 08-06-2016 15:10 | By Kenworthlogger

Im guessing the tourists would rather have a better isite so they can see whats around to do than this.


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