Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is being criticised for plans to spend more than $1 million on temporary fencing for events on the Auckland Harbour Bridge rather than commit to installing permanent barriers.

NZTA has said that for any one-off walking and cycling days on the bridge clip-on that temporary 1.8m fencing would cost around $200 to 400k per event, Official Information Act documents show.

Around five events are planned for late 2022 and into early next year, meaning upwards of $1m would be spent on erecting – then dismantling – the temporary barriers on each side of the bride.

Chartered civil engineer Richard Young said this was “not a smart use of money.”

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“It, therefore, looks like Waka Kotahi is loading any ‘public access days’ with unnecessary temporary fencing costs that could, and should, be used now for a permanent solution to save lives,” Young said.

A Waka Kotahi spokesperson said it was “still in the initial phases” of investigating walking and cycling events to potentially be held over the upcoming summer.

“The nature of these events has not been confirmed, with dates, costs, and health and safety requirements, including fencing, still to be worked through,” the spokesperson said.

A 2019 feasibility study, carried out by the Auckland Motorway Alliance for Waka Kotahi found three-metre anti-climb barriers would be an “effective strategy” for reducing suicides.

It estimated the project would cost around $13m, or $6m for each side of the structure. More expensive horizontal barriers were considered, but a follow-up 2020 report discounted the $26.4m option.

This would be the “most cost‐effective” suicide prevention system for the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the study said.

Young said it appeared Waka Kotahi had looked at other bridges and opted for “the most robust solution” rather than finding a “significantly cheaper one”, while also delivering a high level of deterrent to climbing.

A post-and-wire system, which could be manufactured and installed “in a period of months”, could be suitable if walking and cycling were eventually allowed on the bridge, he said.

“That could be delivered at 50% of the cost of their 3-metre stainless steel mesh solution, and it would also not detract from views of the city on the eastern side of the [Auckland Harbour Bridge].”

Waka Kotahi said no barrier system was “entirely effective against” suicide attempts.

“International research on this matter recommends a combination of better security, surveillance, and barriers as the most effective combination to deter suicide attempts.”

More than $2.6m in edge barrier strengthening work has been under way on the bridge in recent weeks. However, Waka Kotahi said there was “no provision” for anti-climb or pedestrian fencing as part of this project.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge is one of the most critical structures in the city, carrying more than 180,000 vehicles a day across the Waitematā Harbour.

Suicide attempts from the bridge have caused “major disruption on the network” and the likelihood of this occurring has increased each year, the report said.

Waka Kotahi said the report advised further work was needed to see if the bridge could support the recommended barriers.

“An investment source for such investigations is not yet confirmed.”

Current prevention measures already in place at the Harbour Bridge included buoys, a 24/7 camera monitoring system, and higher barriers that acted as an anti‐climb fence over the north span of the bridge, the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Michael Wood said the Government was committed to supporting and encouraging alternative methods of transport and that the decisions around the bridge legally sat with the Waka Kotahi board.

“We have been advised that the nature of these events has not yet been confirmed, with key details, including fencing, still to be worked through,” the spokesperson said.