Drivers to get more time in Harbour St precinct

HARBOUR St in Oamaru’s heritage quarter is likely to be pedestrianonly for fewer hours each weekend this summer.

The Waitaki District Council’s assets committee yesterday recommended the council adopt a Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm closure for the historic street.

Last year the council closed the oneway street to cars from 10am to 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

But after two trial carfree periods and several business surveys, in September the council voted to support a closure on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the Labour weekend to Easter period.

And after the council’s latest survey to determine what hours Harbour and Tyne Sts businesses wanted the closure for, the assets committee voted in favour of council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen’s recommendation for the street to remain carfree from 10am to 4pm on those days.

The timing of the pedestrianonly access would take into consideration the concerns of Harbour Street Collective Cafe, which was required to have a ‘‘driveup available for patrons’’ as part of its liquor licence, Mr Jorgensen’s report said.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said some in the community would view the reduced hours of the street’s carfree status as ‘‘a small step backwards’’.

‘‘There’s a lot of people who want to see the street closed 24/7 . . . ’’ ‘‘But we’re trying to balance public expectations along with, the businesses that have to survive,’’ he said.