Oamaru finally has its blue disabled car parks.
On Saturday, contractors working for the Waitaki District Council repainted two yellow disability parks in central Oamaru royal blue, the internationally recognised colour for parking areas restricted to disabled people.
In mid-August, the council announced plans to trial the coloured disabled parks outside the Oamaru Library-North Otago Museum complex and another outside the post office on Coquet St.
The work was to have been completed by the end of September but council roading assets manager Gary Woock said "wet spells" had prevented the contractors from completing the application of the cold-applied epoxy paint, which costs about $1500 a park.
The trial may slowly be introduced across the district, at two parks a year.
Mr Woock estimated there were between 30 and 50 disabled parks in the district.
The idea was suggested by CCS Disability Waitaki during submissions on the council's 2010-11 draft annual plan.
CCS Disability Action Waitaki had commended the council on leading other councils in the lower South Island with the trial, and CCS Disability Waitaki branch team leader Diane Talanoa had praised the council's willingness to consult on disability access.
The parks will be the second and third blue disabled parks in Oamaru, following the one put in place outside CCS Disability Action Waitaki.
