Timaru’s Strathallan Corner project completed 10 months behind schedule

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Timaru’s Strathallan Corner on Tuesday morning, on the day it was completed.

One of the most discussed council projects in recent years has finally been completed, 10 months behind schedule.

At Tuesday’s Timaru District Council projects and procurement committee meeting, general manager of assets and infrastructure, Andrew Dixon, confirmed the $1.6 million upgrade of Strathallan Corner would be finished that day “at last’’.

“It’s been a bit of a haul and we’ve had a flurry of activity on the site which has managed to close off most of the outstanding items,’’ he told councillors.

“The last thing is getting done as we speak.’’

That work was the installation of blue stone on seating in the square, he said.

Contractors begin installing blue stone at the Strathallan Corner seats in Timaru on Monday afternoon.

On Monday, a long-awaited change table was installed in the corner’s new toilet block, after it was delayed because it was “accidentally’’ left off a council order.

The long-running project, which began in May 2025, was originally set-down to take about two months to complete.

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

In providing an update to the committee, Dixon said the installation of shade sales could be looked at in the future, as well as light poles.

“But there’s no funding allocated to that project at the moment,’’ he said.

Strathallan Corner, in May 2025, ahead of work to redevelop it.

The area had been “well used’’ by the community and a full report on the project would be presented to councillors, he said.

“We have compiled a list of all the people involved, contractors and consultants and I am working with Rosie Oliver from our programme delivery team, to come up with a formal close-out report.

“That will definitely have a lot of lessons learned.’’

Committee chairperson Stacey Scott asked that the project be listed on the committee’s action register, to be updated at each meeting, until the final report was presented.

She also acknowledged the Timaru CBD Group which recently placed planted pots at the site “which has really made a difference too’’.

Dixon agreed saying it was “really good they’ve come to the party and taken ownership of the project’’.

He said he had attended a meeting with the group recently with members positive about the project.

Timaru District Council general manager of assets and infrastructure, Andrew Dixon, confirmed the $1.6 million upgrade of Strathallan Corner would be finished on Tuesday “at last’’.

The project had attracted plenty of attention, and in January the council set the record straight on wood used on the outside walls of the new toilets installed as part of the project, after members of the public questioned its use.

At the time, Dixon said the wood was reclaimed Australian hardwood timber from the Timaru wharf.

Dixon said the wood had been generously donated to the Strathallan Corner project by Jmac Joinery in Washdyke.

Holes visible in the wood were part of the history of its origin, as they were created by marine borers (such as sea worms, molluscs, and crustaceans), he said.

“These features do not indicate or cause any damage or weakness in the timber’s current condition.”

As part of the work, the bronze statue honouring the life of the world champion boxer Bob Fitzsimmons, one of Timaru’s most acclaimed sportsmen, was removed for six months.