More work happening on long-running Stafford St corner project in Timaru

Monday, 11 May 2026

An aerial view of Strathallan Corner in Timaru’s CBD on Friday.

Ten months after its original completion date, work continues on the redevelopment of Strathallan Corner in Timaru’s CBD with a long-awaited change table to be installed in the new toilet block.

The change table, which was delayed as part of the $1.6 million upgrade of the corner, because it was “accidentally” left off an order by the Timaru District Council, would be installed in the accessible toilet at the site on Monday.

“While this work is being completed there will be signage up directing people to two alternative accessible toilets at the Timaru Library and Station St,” the council’s general manager of assets and infrastructure, Andrew Dixon, said.

Barney Hayman, left, and Tim Kleinjan, of Fab Tech Engineering Solutions, erect a frame for the privacy screen in front of the toilet block at Strathallan Corner, in Timaru, this week.

It followed the installation of lights and a privacy screen in front of the toilet block last week.

That meant just a seat made of bluestone was left to complete the project.

“The dates for this to be installed are still to be confirmed,’’ Dixon said.

At April’s council project and procurement committee meeting, when councillor Stu Piddington asked for an update on the project and what remained to be done at the site, Dixon said there were five items yet to be completed.

While the plaque on the Bob Fitzsimmons statue had been placed, and the lights and screen installed, he said there had been issues with the bluestone seating.

“The seating, that is reliant … on the completion of the bluestone and that is one area we are having issues with in getting supply,’’ he said at the time.

“Apparently the bluestone cutting machine has failed and is under repair at the moment and causing us a bit of delay there.”

The plaque reattached to the Bob Fitzsimmons statue at Strathallan Corner, in Timaru, last month.

He had taken over managing the project, he told the meeting.

The project, which began in May 2025, had been hit by several delays, with the council’s chief executive Nigel Trainor calling for a review of the process, describing it at the time as a fundamental lesson in how not to do a project.

Meanwhile, an $850,000 upgrade of traffic lights at the intersection of Stafford, Strathallan and Church streets, next to Strathallan Corner was to begin on Sunday evening.

The work was expected to take about three weeks and footpath replacements would follow that work.