Million-dollar project opens

water main services were also upgraded.

Havelock Community Association chairperson Val Seatter said that had been a priority, as the street used to flood.

She said Neil St and the domain were part of an important community area for Havelock, as the pavilion hosted many events and the field behind it was home to the local rugby club.

‘‘There’s a lot of sports here, but it’s also a community space, so that’s what we’re promoting today too, not just the fact that Neil St is complete,’’ she said.

Seatter said it had been exciting to be involved with the project for the last four years. The association had been ‘‘really happy’’ with the consultation from Marlborough District Council on the project.

‘‘There was a lot of community input into what people here wanted,’’ she said.

Engineer and project manager Tim Smit said a lot of the funding had gone towards the retaining wall, road surfacing and stormwater upgrades, as Neil St had been a narrow, chip seal road prior to the makeover.

‘‘We’ve basically upgraded all the services as well as the road, underground as well as above ground. The whole car park was upgraded, all the footpaths, as there were no footpaths before, basically boundary-to-boundary within the road reserve was all redone.

‘‘It’s great when these projects come together. I do a lot of other engineering in Marlborough, but these community projects come with a bit more warmth,’’ he said.

The project was a collaboration from a number of council teams, with the support of the Havelock Community Association.

It was led by parks and open spaces, with assistance from Marlborough Roads, the Small Townships Programme and the Assets & Services Department.