Harbourside Redevelopment Underway

Waitaki residents will be pleased to see the Harbourside redevelopment project get underway when the old grain silos near Holmes Wharf are removed on Monday. The delay in getting this work done was due to Council deciding to apply to the Historic Places Trust for an Archaeological Authority, which puts in place protections for the area in case of accidental discovery of historic remains.



Cr Gary Kircher, Chair of Council’s Harbour and Heritage Sub-committee is rapt that the work is finally being done. “We wanted to make sure that the silo removal was done with the sensitivity the area deserves. However, we also want the public to see that Council has this project as a top priority for this year and that progress is being made.”



Some of the silos sit on top of the site of the former Oamaru Railway Station, and there is a possibility some foundations still remain intact beneath. Ms Angela Middleton, a registered archaeologist, will be on site while the contractor is there to provide advice should accidental discovery occur.



Another concern is penguins, as they have been known to nest in the silos. The Department of Conservation and the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony have both been notified of the work.



Silo removal is expected to take two days, and the public are advised to stay away from this area while the work is being done.