Christchurch East MP Reuben Davidson has been spearheading a petition, seeking government funding to support the upgrades of the Pages Road bridge.
Speaking about the ongoing initiative, Davidson acknowledged that while the Christchurch City Council has committed to the project in its long-term plan, the financial burden currently falls solely on the council and, by extension, the city’s ratepayers.
Davidson said “The council has done excellent work, particularly Celeste Donovan, who has been a key advocate for this project. However, the cost burden is entirely on the council, and central government needs to contribute to this essential infrastructure.”
Davidson said he was confident the government would eventually support the project, mentioning the efforts of his colleague, Megan Woods, in bringing attention to the needs of the South Island.
He noted that the current government policy statement on land transport lacks prioritisation of South Island projects.
“The South Island often feels neglected in national transport policies,” Davidson said. “It’s crucial that central government recognises our needs and contributes to significant projects like the Pages Road bridge. My colleague Megan Woods has done a fantastic job reminding Minister Simeon Brown that the South Island exists.”
The MP also mentioned recent discussions between Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger and Transport Minister Simeon Brown, who visited the Pages Road area to assess the situation.
Davidson said, “It gives me hope that the minister visited the bridge and met with council representatives, but I’m cautious about potential budget cuts that could compromise the project.
“It’s about eliminating a bottleneck. In emergencies, whether trivial like fireworks or serious like an evacuation, we need a fully functional bridge. A bridge alone isn’t enough. We need to ensure the entire infrastructure is up to standard.”
The petition garnered hundreds of signatures initially and he was now expecting the number to soon reach thousands.
Addressing the sentiment that the eastern suburbs often feel neglected, Davidson acknowledged the progress made by the council in maintaining New Brighton Road.
“There’s a lot of development happening in New Brighton and across the east, but our infrastructure needs to keep pace. The current bridge doesn’t meet the needs of our growing community.”
Davidson said “we’ve made it as easy as possible for people to show their support. The Facebook page has an easy link to the petition, and there are signs with QR codes all around the area. If anyone wants a sign on their fence, they can reach out to me directly.
“This effort isn’t just for New Brighton residents. It’s for anyone in Christchurch who wants to stand with us and say that the South Island matters, Christchurch East matters, and New Brighton matters. We need this bridge built.”
