Click photo to enlarge
Contractors prepare for underground wiring in Marine Parade
yesterday as part of a $788,000 project to extend Wansbeck
St to the Oamaru Harbour. The project, which started a week
ago, is part of the Harbourside redevelopment being
undertaken by the Waitaki District Council. Photo by David
Bruce.
Work is well under way on a $788,000 new entrance to
Oamaru Harbour by extending Wansbeck St to Marine Parade.
The Wanbseck St extension also includes a new harbour-side
walking and cycling track in Oamaru.
The New Zealand Transport Agency is paying for 67%, or about
$528,000, of the costs, and the extension is expected to be
completed by early April.
The first phase of the contract is the 185m extension of
Wansbeck St, drawing visitors from the historic Harbour-Tyne
precinct to the harbour-side area.
The second phase is construction of the walking and cycling
track, starting at the Humber St end and continuing through
to the blue penguin colony.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said it was "brilliant" to get
government funding for the "exciting" project.
Deputy mayor and harbour subcommittee chairman Gary Kircher
said the project had been many years in the planning.
"It's been a long road for a short road," he quipped.
The aim is to improve access and activity in the harbour area
as part of a redevelopment plan proposed by the council.
The overall contract is being undertaken by Downer EDI, with
Network Waitaki installing underground wiring.
Victorian-style lamp posts will also be installed - the first
has already been put up as an example.
The council is working with the Oamaru Whitestone Civic
Trust, New Zealand Historic Places Trust and has consulted
the Department of Conservation to ensure blue penguins in the
harbour area are not disrupted.
