CityTown trials remain on hold, but slippery tiles fix underway

Saturday, 24 February 2024

A new information board installed on Stafford St is expected to be up and running in the next week.

Timaru’s long running saga over slippery tiles in the CBD has reached a new milestone, with work underway to apply non-slip coating to them
The council has confirmed CityTown trials, which were halted in March 2023, remain on hold
$30,000 digital kiosk in Timaru CBD expected to be in use this month

A resolution to Timaru’s long-running slippery tile issue is underway, with the council completing work on a large stretch of the main street this week.

Timaru District Council group manager infrastructure, Andrew Dixon, confirmed the work to resurface the tiles had started.

“Stafford St, from Church St to Bay Hill, was done overnight on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with other areas to follow in the next financial year,” Dixon said.

He said the issue was being resolved through the application of a non-slip coating, which had been trialled on George St in 2023.

The work is being done as part of the CityTown project, which aims to create a masterplan for the long-term development of the CBD.

Dixon said the project aimed to create a plan to develop the CBD to “meet the changing needs of the community, while also supporting the convenience and enjoyment of the present generation”.

TDC group manager infrastructure, Andrew DIxon, says the CityTown trials went on hold in March 2023 having cost $787,500.

“The delivery of this can help prioritise future investment and planning decisions that will guide our CBD.

“Currently public and business feedback … and the need for fiscal restraint in the Draft Long Term Plan, means there is not an appetite to fund significant changes to the CBD at this time.”

He confirmed the trials linked to that project remained on hold, and “apart from $1.5million” budgeted in the next financial year for minor enhancements, no other work was planned.

He said a planned upgrade of the Strathallan Corner toilets was included in that budget and would go ahead.

The CityTown trials which saw a range of events, activites and installations throughout the CBD were halted following controversy over a trial which changed the layout of George and Station streets and was labelled a “total failure” by mayor Nigel Bowen.

An aerial view of the Christmas tree and Piazza.

“There have been no further trials since March 2023, at that time the cost of the design and execution of the trials stood at $787,500,” Dixon said.

While the trials remain on hold, he said the council planned to push ahead with “minor enhancements”, which he had previously referred to as quick wins, such as the treatment of the slippery tiles, a digital kiosk on Stafford St, and new CBD plantings.

The enhancements also include the new Christmas tree erected on the Bay Hill last year and the installation of viewfinder binoculars on the Piazza.

The new screens installed on Stafford St had a total budget of $30,000 and have been described by council as an “engaging, cost effective” way to inform the community. This image shows how the screen might look once in use.

“We will continue to actively identify these enhancements as and when the opportunity arises and based on the guidance in the evolving masterplan.”

Communications and engagement manager, Stephen Doran, said the digital kiosk/ information board, which had been installed on Stafford St as part of the project, would soon be in use.

“We’re currently awaiting the final parts of the power installation to the cabinet, and it should be completed in the next week or so.”

Doran said the project which had a budget of $30,000 was aimed at helping inform the community of events and news.

Events, community information and even some of the district’s art collection are expected to be displayed on the new board on Stafford St. This image shows how the screen might look once in use.

“One of the consistent things we’ve heard over the years is that people didn’t know about events, council news or when we’re consulting on civic matters, so we’re always looking for new ways to get this message out to people.”

He said the screen was an “engaging, cost-effective and flexible way” to bring information to a place where people were.

“The overall budget of the project is $30,000 including the equipment, shipping, consenting and installation of the kiosk. Ongoing costs are around $500 per annum in power, connectivity and management, these are covered within existing communications budgets,” he said.

As well as events and news, it would be used to highlight interesting items from the council’s heritage collections, to welcome visitors, show parking information, push emergency management information and bring the district’s art collection to the CBD.

The event guide displayed on the screen would be picked up from the We Love Timaru events guide which is powered by Eventfinda, he said.

“If people want to see their events on screen, they just need to list it on Eventfinda for free and we can help get the message out.”