Improvements back on track
Stalled work on Palmerston North’s streetscape makeover around The Square is expected to start again early next year.
The city council is getting ready to go out for tender for the next stage of the Streets For People project, on the shopfront side of the street from Main St to Church St.
Works including improved footpaths, kerb and channelling, and car parking on The Square side of the block were completed in March.
Council staff have been working on the detailed design for the next phase for the past few months, hoping to get the tender contract to the full council for approval this month or early next month.
The makeover is part of a $26.6 million plan to upgrade centralcity streets to make it easier for pedestrians to move, with the loss of 205 car parks.
City council chief infrastructure officer Tom Williams said the goal was to make the area more vibrant for locals and visitors during the day and evenings, which the council hoped would attract more investment into the city centre.
Preparation for the next phases of the project will start early next year with consultation on the section of road from Main St to Broadway. This consultation would involve extensive discussions with business owners.
Consultation with Broadway businesses will be carried out in the middle of the year.
A separate consultation on the location for the city bus terminal will also begin, working closely with Horizons Regional Council.
The plan is for the regional buses to remain at the terminal inside The Square.
People who want to keep tabs on the council’s progress on The
Square and on other major projects such as the Memorial Park redevelopment will be able to do so through a new feature recently created on the council’s web page.
Images have been uploaded to a new page on the website showcasing some of the biggest capital projects the council is working on.
The page will be updated with before and after photos, timelines and consultation material.
Williams said during the next year the council would be spending $82m on new infrastructure and upgrades.