The
Alexandra Riverside Park Trust is excited to announce that preliminary work
will begin on its flagship project next week.
Plans
are afoot to begin clearing the site in lower Tarbert Street, to make way for
the creation of a new public space, the Alexandra Riverside Project.
The
first phase of the project will be the establishment of a new entrance into The
Warehouse carpark.
This
will be followed later in the week with the removal of a number of willows and
poplars on the riverbank at the junction of the Clutha/Mata-Au and Manuherekia
rivers, in a joint exercise between the Central Otago District Council and
Otago Regional Council.
Alexandra
Riverside Trust chair Rory Mclellan is stoked to be reaching this stage.
“This
is a project a long time in the making, and we are very excited to see it
finally happening, to rejuvenate a part of Alexandra that has always had so
much potential.
“Our
aim has always been to help integrate the rivers and riverside with the
pedestrian heart of Alexandra, so that it becomes a space for family-friendly
recreation and community events, as well as being a destination for cyclists
and walkers using the network of local trails.”
The
project has had the support of the Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust,
Lottery Grants Board, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE),
Aukaha, Anderson Fencing and Earthworks, Heritage New Zealand and Otago
Regional Council as well as CODC.
It
was hoped that the work could begin the week commencing Monday 16 September
2024 weather depending and would involve closing the carpark at the rear of the
Warehouse while the work was carried out, for about three weeks.
Logs will
be removed from the site. Some will be donated for
firewood and the smaller limbs chipped for mulch.
This
will allow phased development to begin, which will include the creation of a
plaza and river access, enhancements including, seating, toilets, information
panels and the creation of a bike hub to transform the area.
Vincent
Community Board member and project champion Jayden Cromb is also thrilled to
see the rejuvenation of this historically and culturally significant site get
underway.
“The
design and aims of the project honour the past, the present and the future, and
we’re all looking forward to seeing it progress.”
To
keep up with the project and to subscribe to stay informed, go to Let’s Talk:
Alexandra Riverside Project | Let’s
Talk Central Otago (codc.govt.nz)
.
Pictured, the plan and the trees to be removed, and site of the new entrance to be created during the preliminary works.
