Waitaki District Council and NZTA Funding approvals

Council is delighted to have received a double shot of good news from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA). The Agency has approved $528,000 of subsidy for the highly anticipated Wansbeck Street extension in the Oamaru harbour area and a further $88,000 of funding to seal Gardiners Road.

Council staff are now evaluating tenders for the Wansbeck Street project. Council expects that a contract will be let next week. The Wansbeck Street project is part of the Harbourside Walking and Cycling track development already underway.

NZTA funding towards Gardiners Road is a welcome surprise. Council had budgeted to pay for sealing of Gardiners Road entirely from Council funds. Now Council will need to contribute less than half of the $150,000 project following the $88,000 grant from NZTA. . Council has wasted no time and has begun preliminary work on Gardiners Road.

Council’s Roading Manager, Geoff Young said “this is a great outcome and we hope to have Gardiners Road sealed by early December”.

Councillor Gary Kircher said that "It is great news that Council has successfully negotiated with NZTA to get the funding confirmed allowing us to get on with the extension of Wansbeck St and the sealing of Gardiners Rd. These two projects will make a real difference to locals and visitors alike. Congratulations must go to the key staff involved, as well as Cr Alistair Mavor for the input he has had. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing this long-awaited progress at the harbour, once tenders have been let."