Riverside miners’ village proposed
A REPLICA miners’ village and New Zealand’s first free outdoor water slide are proposed in a $3.4 million development alongside Alexandra’s riverside.
The Alexandra Miners Village and Riverside Park Trust this week released a 116page business case assessment for the proposal and is now seeking financial, political and practical support to take the project to the next stage of development.
The idea has been worked on by Alexandra businessman Rory McLellan since 2011 and is intended to rejuvenate the Tarbert St area of Alexandra. Mr McLellan is now the chairman of the village and riverside trust, which has done more research and consultation about the project over the past few years.
Mr McLellan said yesterday he was thrilled the business plan had been released after the time spent on the project so far.
‘‘It’s just exciting to see some progress being made towards helping businesses in the town. The passion has always been to have a great facility for children and tourists alike.’’
The trust was working with the Central Otago District Council and Vincent Community Board to prepare funding applications. It was hoped construction of the park could start next year.
The proposal is to build a replica miners’ village and riverside park at the Clutha River end of Tarbert St, beside the Criterion Club Hotel.
The business case said it was anticipated the trust would become the owner and manager of the development once it was completed, and land would be leased from the Otago Regional Council and Land and Informa tion New Zealand.
The development would become a multipurpose community and tourism hub and include a water tank feature with a viewing platform and children’s slide. This would become New Zealand’s first free, outdoor community waterslide, the report said.
The miners’ village would include a stream and water wheel, chapel, dredge, toilets, cafe and booking office. It would lead to a terraced riverside park and boat pontoon on the Clutha.
Space for 1015 selfcontained freedom camping vehicles would be set aside.
The development would provide a ‘‘landmark attraction’’ for Alexandra, the report said.
This was important, particularly in the Tarbert St area of town, as retail activity was declining there. The report estimated the ‘‘direct spending economic benefit’’ of the development to be $2.1 million a year.
The report said there was a ‘‘huge amount of community buyin and positive community support’’ for the proposal, and it was hoped grants from potential funders such as trusts, local and national government and the New Zealand Lotteries Commission would fund most of the project. Community fundraising would also be done.