Sim Road Bridge, Follow Up Request

Kyle H. made this Official Information request to Auckland Council

The request was partially successful.

From: Kyle H.

Dear Auckland Council,

On 2 June 2020, I sent an official information request to Auckland Transport requesting information on a former rail overbridge in Paerata.

My original OIA request to Auckland Transport on 2 June 2020, and their response on 23 June 2020, and 3 July 2020 is available to view on the following website: https://fyi.org.nz/request/12863-sim-roa...

Auckland Transport was able to answer my questions regarding future development in the region. However, in their response dated 3 July 2020, Auckland Transport refused to answer questions 1, 1(a), and 1(a)(i). They stated, “The bridge was removed by the former Franklin District Council in the mid 2000’s. Auckland Transport holds no information regarding the removal of the bridge.”

The Franklin District Council no longer exists, as it was amalgamated into the new Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. Therefore, I would like to make an official information request to the Auckland Council, regarding the “Sim Road Bridge”.

The bridge in question was part of Sim Road in Paerata. It was the only way to cross the railway line between Paerata and Drury, which are almost 7 km apart. The exact coordinates of the former bridge are 37°09'08.6"S, 174°54'01.4"E or in decimal form: -37.152377, 174.900354. The following weblinks show a map of the location of the former bridge:

1. Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%...
2. Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)’s Topo500 map: https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&...

I have the following questions about this bridge:

1. What was the justification for removing the bridge (the removal of which I believe occurred around 2008-2009)?

1(a) If this was due to a structural issue or another defect in the bridge itself, why was the bridge removed instead of being fixed or replaced?
1(a)(i) If the answer to 1(a) is due to the cost, I would like to know any estimates that exist of what the cost of repairing the old bridge would have been, before the bridge’s removal around 2009.

1(b) If Auckland Council is also unable to answer Question 1 or 1(a), I would like to know–
1(b)(i) whether Auckland Council is aware of any other government agency(ies) that may hold information on the Sim Road Bridge; and
1(b)(ii) the names of these agencies; and
1(b)(ii) any information or correspondence that Auckland Council has had with the foregoing government agencies regarding the Sim Road Bridge.

I have not included questions 2 through to 4, because Auckland Transport was able to satisfactorily answer those.

I look forward to your response.

Best regards,
Kyle H.

Link to this

From: Official Information
Auckland Council


Attachment LGOIMA and Privacy Information Sheet 2017.pdf
265K Download View as HTML


Dear Kyle,

 

Thank you for your request for information regarding Sim Road Bridge.

 

I have attached an information sheet on our processes and requirements
under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

 

We will respond to your request by 4 August 2020.

 

If you have further questions please feel free to contact Sarah
Parry-Crooke ([1][email address]) on 09 301
0101, quoting reference 8140007110.

 

 

Kind regards

The Privacy and LGOIMA team

Auckland Council

 

 

[2]Together we can recover stronger.

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References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Page...

Link to this

From: Kyle H.

Dear Auckland Council,

On 4 July 2020, I sent an OIA request regarding the 'Sim Road Bridge'. Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) 1987, Auckland Council is obligated to respond to OIA requests within 20 business days.

In addition, I received an email from Auckland Council on 8 July 2020, wherein Auckland Council stated that "We will respond to your request by 4 August 2020."

It is now 7 August 2020, and I have still not heard back. I would appreciate an update regarding the status of my OIA request, considering that it is now one week delayed.

Warm regards,
Kyle H.

Link to this

From: Official Information
Auckland Council

Hi Kyle,
 
Our apologies, I will follow this up for you.
 
Please feel free to give me a call at any stage.
 
Kind regards
Sarah
 
 

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Sarah Parry-Crooke
Auckland Council


Attachment FW Sims Road Overbridge.pdf
101K Download View as HTML


Hi Kyle,

 

Writing in regards to your request for information about the Sim Road
Bridge.

 

Our apologies again for the delay in response to your query.  A response
was drafted but not sent to this address. It reads as follows:

 

Our archives team undertook a search for the information requested.  We
did find one relevant email, see attached.  We believe any additional
information would be more likely be held by some parts of central
government and I have included contact details for information requests
below.

 

NZTA:

[1][email address]

[2]https://nzta.govt.nz/about-us/official-i...

 

Archives New Zealand:

[3]https://archives.govt.nz/about-us/open-g...

 

Thank you for your patience and we apologise again for the delay in
response.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries.

 

Kind regards

Sarah

 

Sarah Parry-Crooke

Senior Privacy and LGOIMA Business Partner

Ph: 09 301 0101

[4]Together we can love local.

CAUTION: This email message and any attachments contain information that
may be confidential and may be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this message or
attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email
message in error please notify us immediately and erase all copies of the
message and attachments. We do not accept responsibility for any viruses
or similar carried with our email, or any effects our email may have on
the recipient computer system or network. Any views expressed in this
email may be those of the individual sender and may not necessarily
reflect the views of Council.

References

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2. https://nzta.govt.nz/about-us/official-i...
3. https://archives.govt.nz/about-us/open-g...
4. https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.go...

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