The Invercargill City Council has received $400,000 in funding though the Waka Kotahi Innovating Streets pilot fund, to innovate three street works projects in the city.  

ICC Roading Manager Russell Pearson said the Innovating Streets fund enabled the council to investigate how the city streets could be improved and used in new ways.  

“The funding allows us to ‘test the waters’ a little bit, to try new things. [It] will enable us to seek feedback from our community without committing the ratepayer to trying out something which we think will work, but we won’t know until we try.  

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“It very much reduces risk to the ratepayer, while giving us the opportunity to be innovative and leaders in developing Invercargill streets to be great places to be,” he said.  

The planning for three key projects will also work within the Invercargill City Centre Master Plan project which is currently underway. 

The projects are: 

Deveron Street Activated Cycleway 

A pilot/trial project for improved cycling connections across the city centre and between major city parks and green spaces. The short-term project will include safe cycleway planning and “activations” along Deveron Street, such as events, art installations or food and drink stops. 

Esk Street transformation  

Esk Street is undergoing a major transformation with Invercargill Central Limited’s development of the inner-city block and the nearby ILT Langlands Hotel development. Working with local businesses, community representatives, schools and interest groups through the Invercargill City Centre Master Plan process, the ICC will involve the community in plans to bring life, activity, and fun to Esk Street. Work will be carried out while the Master Plan is being developed and will also inform its final concepts.  

Shelter ideas and activations 

Mr Pearson said community-led experiments and conversations will tease out what kind of shelter is needed in the city centre to protect people from the southern elements. The findings will then influence the design work that follows the Master Plan.  

Mr Pearson said the projects are a great way to kick start the work being considered in the City Centre Master Plan.  

“Work on the three projects is already underway and people can expect to see and hear more as early as next week. It’s a great boost for the city to receive the Innovating Streets funding and we’re excited to see the results of the work we’ve got planned,” he said.  

The three projects should be completed by June 30, 2021.