Last year, the council advertised its intention to change 3.77ha of land along the foreshore at Friendly Bay, the Steampunk playground and on the harbour side of the Esplanade and Waterfront Rd, from Oamaru Harbour endowment freehold land to local purpose reserve.
Land from the Oamaru Rowing Club building to the McKeown depot, and a vacant section at the corner of the Esplanade and Waterfront Rd, is excluded and retained its endowment land status.
To compensate for the loss of income-earning endowment commercial land, the council would change the status of 3.34ha of the former railways goods yard land, excluding track used by Oamaru Steam and Rail, from local purpose reserve to Oamaru Harbour endowment freehold.
The council received two submissions when advertised last year from Oamaru Steam and Rail and Oamaru resident Bruce Comfort, both supporting the exchange but raising issues.
During a hearing of those submissions earlier this month, Steam and Rail representative Harry Andrew wanted to ensure that the rail corridor around the harbour to the Red Sheds and another to Holmes Wharf was protected.
Mr Comfort questioned the legal status of lower Wansbeck St from the railway crossing to Holmes Wharf and part of The Esplanade which had been turned into a children's playground.
After hearing and considering submissions, the hearings panel decided the land exchange should go ahead, but the rail corridor protected.
The council ratified the decision last week.
