Portobello/Harington Pt Rd Safety Improvement Project Update 

   The Board recognises that there is a great deal of community interest in this project and so is providing this update to the community.  Council staff have carried out much work  behind the scenes  over the past months in    preparation for this final phase to begin.  The process from here on in is as follows:  

• the professional services tender for this project is currently out – a design consultant will soon be appointed  
• a reference group will be asked to advise on specialist aspects of the design  e.g. lighting, environmental mitigation etc 
• the community will have the opportunity to input into the detail of the design – OPCB have advocated for Peninsula drop in sessions with Board  members and  DCC staff in attendance to explain  plans and concept drawings so that community members  can visualise the design and comment on details e.g. placement of the steps, seats etc
• following the approval of the design detail  by Council, there will be a tender (expected to be early 2017) for a contractor  to carry out the physical works 
• construction is expected to begin in March/ April  2017 (the goal for completion is still the end of 2018) 
• issues that have arisen in already completed sections e.g. sea wall edging, will be addressed as part of this project,  as well as making the whole length consistent as far as layout etc.
• non reclamation sections e.g. the cutting at Broad Bay, will be constructed  later in the project  as these areas are considered to require  more  time for further investigation before the design can be completed (but still as part of the goal of a 2018 completion)
• multiple work sites are expected to operate throughout the project  

Glenn O’Connor has been appointed Project Manager. Glenn previously  assisted NZTA to  deliver its large projects and  so is well placed to assist both Council and NZTA to deliver this significant  project. The Board has stressed that communication with the community  will be key  throughout this final phase of the  project.  

We  have all waited so long for this phase of the project and  the  significant safety improvements  it will deliver for our community – the end is very much in sight!  Thank you for your considerable patience.

 

Christine Garey

Chairperson
Otago Peninsula Community Board