The community board recommended at its meeting earlier in the month that $400,000 for the ramp at Kāmoanahaehae — Riverside Park, in lower Tarbert St, be allocated from the board’s reserves contribution.
At yesterday’s Central Otago District Council meeting it was agreed that the reserves be used to construct a ramp from the edge of the riverbank to a floating jetty.
Council parks and reserves manager Gordon Bailey said in his report to council construction on the project began in September last year and stage one should be finished by August or September.
Stage one was the construction of a plaza with public toilets, seating, landscaping and paving along with a Mana Whenua artwork. Stage two was the ramp and stage three a play area.
In the 2021-31 long term plan the council allocated $650,000 to the project, which was being managed by the Alexandra Riverside Trust.
The Otago Regional Council had funded the removal of trees in the area and the Wairoa — Manuherekia Trust had given $120,000 for the removal of additional willow trees from the Manuherekia riverbank and to construct an off-road trail that will link the park to the Linger and Die reserve and on to the Otago Central Rail Trail.
Mr Bailey said the original budgets for the project were prepared in 2018 and labour and materials had all increased in price since then.
Funding had also been sourced from Otago Community and Central Lakes Trusts, Lottery and MBIE but there was a shortfall of $400,000.
Council charged financial contributions for reserves from developers.
That money was for the provision and/or enhancement of open space, recreation and reserve needs of the district, he said.
The Vincent ward reserves contribution account had about $1.3m.
It could be argued the projected increase in visitors, particularly cyclists, into Alexandra was growth related and the ramp would contribute to the enhancement of the open space, Mr Bailey said.
Once completed Kāmoanahaehae-Riverside Park would be the cycle hub for the Clutha Gold, Otago Rail Trail and Cromwell Gorge trails, Mr Bailey said.
Mayor Tamah Alley said the trust had been really active in finding funding from sources other than the council.
