Upgrade at Strathallan Corner a ‘little bit behind’

Thursday, 19 June 2025

Work on a $1.6 million redevelopment of Timaru’s Strathallan Corner has been delayed, with the council citing “unforeseen circumstances”.

Just what those circumstances are has not been revealed.

Timaru District councillors were given an update on the project at Tuesday’s infrastructure committee meeting after councillor Stu Piddington sought assurances on the redevelopment, citing no visible work at the site for three weeks.

Piddington was also concerned as he had heard there was no finalised design for the project, he said.

A toilet block at the site was demolished a month ago as part of the project’s first stage.

During stage two, the remainder of the site would be landscaped. The project was expected to be completed by July.

The upgrade is part of the $34m CityTown project, with the aim of creating a master plan for the long-term development of Timaru’s central business district.

Piddington pointed out the council was paying for temporary toilets and fencing that had been installed while the work was undertaken.

Apart from the removal of a concrete pad, there had been no work at the site for three weeks, he said.

Group manager infrastructure Andrew Dixon gave an assurance there was a finalised design for the project.

“That is what we are working to at the moment,” he said.

Dixon said there had been a holdup with some services, but work would be under way again “very shortly”.

“It’s just [about] getting that sorted out,” he said.

The new toilet facility had been bought and was being stored at Timaru Airport, he said. “We’re just working through some foundations and getting that done.”

He said councillors had signed off the concept design and staff were “basically” sticking to that.

“There’s a few minor changes being made which is in relation to the old toilet block.”

He was referring to the former underground men’s toilets, built in 1929, which had been repurposed by Alpine Energy as a service area.

“Alpine actually have some infrastructure down in there so we’re having to work with them as well,” he said.

Piddington asked when the project would be completed.

Dixon said the council was “running a little bit behind” but aimed to have the job done by mid-July.

When councillor Allan Booth asked whether the delay was down to a council or contractor issue, Dixon said it was the result of “some unforeseen issues that we’re having to resolve before the contractor can get in there”.

“When you start digging on sites you find things and you have to deal with them, so there are some slight delays in that respect.”

He said it was “nothing major, though”.

Booth said from that he interpreted “some precious bones or artefacts” had been found.

“We are having to work with the archaeological information – it is a historic site, unfortunately,” Dixon replied.

Piddington then asked whether the project would be finished on time.

“That’s what people want to know because we say mid-July, which is only four weeks away. There’s no show.

“Can we have some honesty about when things are actually going to happen?”

Dixon said the programme was being worked to the “end of July”.

When Piddington asked if the delay would add further costs to the project, Dixon said it would not.

“It’s within budget,” he said.

Councillor Sally Parker, the committee chairperson, then sought an assurance the project would be completed by the end of July and on budget.

“Yes,” Dixon said.