The sealing of the large car park just west of the Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony has long been on the to-do list, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says.



And with $110,000 of Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Tourism Infrastructure Funding for the project, it has been moved up the Ōamaru Harbour area plan priority list.

A considerable amount of work had been done on funding and planning for the Waterfront Road area, for about the past six months or so, he said.

The remaining $340,000 of the projected $450,000 cost would come from the council Harbour Endowment Reserve Funding.

Waitaki District Council property manager Grant Rhodes said the aim of the project is to create a “robust and safe” long-term asset, with low-maintenance costs, which meets the vehicle parking needs of the Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony and other southern harbour users.

The large dirt area will be sealed and marked for two bus parks, nine campervan parks and 30 car parks. The development will improve traffic flow into, within, and out of the car park, making it safer and more user-friendly, and reducing confusion for drivers, he said.

New lighting will provide extra safety, given the high amount of night-time traffic due to its proximity to the penguin colony, which was busiest after dark.

Improved drainage will protect the car park and adjoining infrastructure and improvements, and visually, it will be more appealing to visitors, Grant said. 

The smaller car park directly between the colony and Del Mar Eatery and Beach Bar will also be re-surfaced at the same time.

Gary said the sealed area will not take up all of the available space, to allow for future expansion of the colony.

“But the fact that it’s sealed, it’s then able to be marked, and when it’s marked it’s a far more efficient use of space.

“You can fit a lot more cars into a smaller area, so it’s actually going to be better, and it just tidies up that end of the harbour and it’s another project in the harbour plan that’s been ticked off once it’s done.”

It was a “total coincidence” the work on the car park was happening around the same time the council was putting out feelers for possible partners for the penguin colony, he said. 

Until now the priority had been working on the resilience of the breakwater and refurbishment of Holmes Wharf. 

“And now we’re onto the car park.”

A head contractor for the job will be advertised for later this month, with a target completion date of no later than October 31.