Questions around additional element for Timaru’s Strathallan Corner redevelopment

Thursday, 7 August 2025

A yet-to-be approved addition to the design plan for the $1.6 million redevelopment of Timaru’s Strathallan Corner appears in new concept drawings released by the council on Wednesday, just a day after a councillor was told it had not been confirmed.

Councillor Stu Piddington questioned the inclusion of a sculptural pole in the latest designs during Tuesday’s Timaru District Council meeting.

Piddington told the meeting he had been left confused by a memo sent to councillors, by the council’s development manager Rosie Oliver, on Monday updating them on the project.

“Last time we met I asked if there were sculptures going in there and got told there wasn’t,’’ he said, adding “but I see now there’s a new element that was not anticipated in the original concept”.

Piddington asked whether the new sculpture would be presented to council for “costing and consenting”.

“Why would we be doing something that wasn’t in the original project?’’

He said the council could not afford to pay for items such as repairs to the footbridge off The Terrace.

“I’m just concerned that staff are going to put time and effort into an element that wasn’t even part of the original plan.

“I’m just confused by all this stuff.’’

Group manager infrastructure Andrew Dixon confirmed there was no funding for the sculpture.

“That new element is a pole with eels wrapped around it,’’ he said.

“It was suggested from iwi, they were requesting it.’’

He said it had not been included in the project’s original plan and would be brought to the council “for consideration and funding”.

Mayor Nigel Bowen confirmed the sculpture was a “wish’’ and had not been included in the budget.

On Wednesday, the council released its final designs for the site, with the sculpture a prominent feature in them.

The council issued a statement with the final designs, and made one reference to the sculpture.

“The theme of mahika kai is also carried through the tuna (eel) balance beams.”

The statement explained cultural integration was “central to the redevelopment’’.

Under the guidance of local artist Fran Spencer, the design incorporated a whāriki/ woven mat paving motif that symbolised the journey of īnaka/whitebait through Timaru’s coastal lagoons, it said.

The updated concept, developed by WSP in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, reflected “a commitment to safety, accessibility, cultural storytelling, and long-term value for ratepayers’’, it said.

While staying close to the original concept design, it had evolved to address key structural and environmental considerations highlighted during early earthworks.

“One change is that the curvature of the terraces has been reversed to accommodate underground infrastructure, and tall plantings at the front of the site have been removed to improve sightlines and pedestrian flow.

“Accessibility remains a cornerstone of the design. The site features non-slip broomed concrete on the ramp, and a Exeloo toilet unit with accessible features.’’

Pavers had been supplied by Paving South Canterbury and a stairway behind the toilet unit will provide access to the adjacent vehicle parking area, it said.

The new toilets were expected to be operational by Friday, with the site redevelopment expected to be finished by late September.

The project remained within budget, it said.

Late last month, Oliver told councillors elements of the design were still being finessed.

She said the final design was “going to look really, really similar’’ to what councillors had seen earlier.

At that meeting, Dixon conceded an earlier assurance he gave that the project would be completed by the end of July had been “a little optimistic”.

The upgrade, which began in May with the demolition of the former toilets, is part of the council’s $34m CityTown project which aimed to create a masterplan for the long-term development of Timaru’s CBD.