The next two areas earmarked for improvement as part of Cromwell's ''rejuvenated'' town centre will be upgraded this winter.
The north side of the Murray Tce car parks and the eastern entrance to the Cromwell Mall, along Barry Ave, are the next areas to be targeted in the $3.1 million staged redevelopment.
A $1.3 million project focusing on the north face of the 28-year-old mall, the first stage of the town centre revamp, was completed in November. It included stone walls, new paving, lighting, seating and landscaping, near a bus shelter and public toilet block which was completed a year earlier.
At the official opening of the north face redevelopment, Cromwell Community Board chairman Neil Gillespie said a revamp of the mall was first mooted in 1998, 13 years after it opened.
The Cromwell Community Board considered a report from Central Otago District Council property and facilities manager Mike Kerr this week on concept plans and designs for the remaining work. It has set aside $1.04 million in the coming year for the town centre redevelopment. The full cost to complete the next two areas will be $740,000.
''Those areas will be constructed this winter,'' Mr Kerr said. Two mature Robinia trees would be removed from the mall as part of the upgrade, to open up the mall, he said.
A large oak tree near Barry Ave and a pin oak tree near the corner of the mall would be retained. A raised lawn with perimeter seating was another addition to the landscaping in that area, along with a small grove of trees to provide some wind protection.
The following stage of the upgrade would be the area around the Big Fruit Sculpture. Although concept plans existed for that area, detailed design work was needed, Mr Kerr said.
