Work being done earlier this week to close off the bridge. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Work to demolish the City to Sea Bridge in Wellington has been paused at least until the end of the month.
The bridge was fenced off by the council just days after a court case to save the bridge failed, with the decision to proceed with demolition met with public objection.
The bridge sits over Jervois Quay and links the city to the sea.
In an email sent to councillors and seen by RNZ, Mayor Tory Whanau said the work was being paused to await recommendations of the government's Earthquake-prone building and seismic risk management review.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Whanau said she understood the government would be announcing the recommendations before the end of the month.
"While we do not know what the outcomes of the review will be, it is possible it will have impacts on the Capital E building which is designated earthquake prone under the Building Act," she said.
"Given the government announcement is now imminent it is sensible that we see what recommendations are before proceeding with any further action on Capital E and the City to Sea Bridge. That way, if any new options emerge as a result of the review recommendations, we can reassess our plans for the bridge."
She said the council's chief executive Matt Prosser had given an assurance that no further work would be done on Capital E or the City to Sea Bridge before the end of the month and that officers would carefully review the government's recommendations when they come out.
The council only got the green light to go ahead with demolition last week after the Wellington Civic Trust's court case failed.
Helene Ritchie, who chairs the Wellington Civic Trust - which brought the court case against the council - said the government's recommendations had been imminent for some time and it was "a bit alarming" if the council weren't aware of this earlier.
She also felt the mayor's statement lacked clarity on was whether any contracts to start the demolition had actually been signed.
"It should be clearer whether the officers have signed any contracts to proceed with all or part of the demolition of the city to sea bridge and associated structures."
Ritchie said the mayor's announcement superficially looked like welcome news, but she didn't believe demolition was going to happen before the end of the month anyway.
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