Major projects mark milestones

Last modified: 29 Jul 2020 10:39am

Significant steps have been taken on some the Council’s major projects as work restarted under Level 3 conditions.

The impact of the pandemic on ongoing infrastructure projects is unclear with work stopped under Level 4 and continuing uncertain effects on supplies and worksites. But both the Selwyn Aquatic Centre and Rolleston Town Centre infrastructure projects were able to mark milestones.

The Aquatic Centre has been able to complete maintenance that would have normally required a full pool shutdown. This means the planned pool shutdown later in the year will be able to be significantly reduced, or avoided altogether, Manager Active Selwyn James Richmond says. In the Rolleston Town Centre, work has begun on the reserve car park for Te Ara Ātea and the new town centre, while the wider pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of Tennyson Street has been completed and new lighting is being installed.

The impact of the pandemic on supply chains and contractors and the restrictions around working with social distancing has made it difficult to assess when work will be completed on projects. Contractors have been working hard to catch up as much time as possible and at this stage, a three to five month delay is expected on most major projects. However, the Council is hoping to complete the Foster Park Indoor Courts around April 2021, close to the original planned opening date.

Depending on the weather and impacts of the pandemic, it is hoped that work on Tennyson Street along Rolleston Reserve can be completed by August and the road open to traffic earlier than that. Contractors are aiming to complete the upgrade of the Lowes Road and Tennyson Street intersection by the end of July.