The next steps in the Ōamaru Harbour upgrade are in the form of another new footpath.

Waitaki District Council project manager Erik van der Spek said the footpath will be along Waterfront Road, between McKeown Group and the intersection with The Esplanade, and will begin in May.

A new raised crossing will also be installed to slow down traffic turning into The Esplanade.

“The Ōamaru Harbour area is enjoyed by those who both live in or visit the district. This is an important area to make safer and more accessible to all visitors,” Erik said.

This is the second footpath to be completed as part of the harbour plan, with the first between Scotts Brewing Co and The Galley cafe, completed in August last year.

Whitestone Contracting will carry out the work, and the timeline is subject to weather and any other priority jobs required by council, he said.

There should be minimal impact on traffic during the work, however traffic management will be in place to ensure worker safety.

Impact on local wildlife will also be low, as the path is in the open and largely adjacent to existing infrastructure such as roads and rail.

Assets operations manager Joshua Rendell said the Ōamaru Harbour area is taking shape and was popular.

“This area is used quite a lot by walkers and cyclists - construction of the new footpath away from the roadside will assist in making this area safer for all.”

Last year’s footpath installation and this new work will be constructed within a budget of $180,000, which council approved as part of the 2021-31 Long Term Plan.

The Ōamaru Harbour Plan can be found here: