14 | Westland District Council REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Projects set up region for strong recovery from page 12 Completed in November 2021, Westland District Council transportation manager Karl Jackson says it also provides service connections to a proposed fire station, police station and Civil Defence as well as a possible emergency helicopter landing site. He says the Old Christchurch Road Seal Extension was another strategic project as it is a vital link to Hokitika that serves as an alternative Route when State Highway 73 is closed between Kumara and Okuku Reserve. Karl says it also serves as a popular tourist destination as it provides a key access point to the West Coast Wilderness Trail. The project saw a 12km section of the road sealed and parts widened eliminating dust and safety issues. Other seminal projects include Hokitika Airport Extension, which resulted in a fit for purpose facility for passengers to the region, and the Hokitika Pool upgrade. Funding from central Government has allowed for the completion of the first stages of the upgrade, which replaced core infrastructure. Stage two, which will start in June 2023, includes renovating the existing changing facilities and creating a new reception and entryway. Upgrades to the Hokitika Swimming Pool are being staged so the swimming pool is open during the summer months and closed during the winter for work to be done. Scott Baxendale, Westland District Council group manager district assets says managing the logistics of materials delays and contractors needing to come to the district during Covid-19 lockdowns was the main challenge. Erle Bencich, Westland District Council operations manager says it’s a credit to the wider team that the project has been so successful. Works will commence again in early June 2023. Stage three is subject to further external funding, and involves building an extension to the pool, to include a heated toddlers or learners swimming pool. Other projects underway include a brownfield development at Hokitika Racecourse and the Hokitika Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade due for completion in early 2026. Nearing completion is the earthquake strengthening of the Carnegie building, which houses Hokitika Museum. Other work on the West Coast that does not involve Council directly includes Heritage New Zealand’s upgrade of the Government House building and Ngāi Tahu’s new pounamu centre in Greymouth with similar centres proposed for Hokitika, Haast and Westport in the future. 26"-*5: *4 063 #64*/&44 41&$*"-*454 */ */%6453*"- &-&$53*$"- */4536.&/5"5*0/ "650."5*0/ %"*3: ] '00% #&7&3"(& ] 108&3 (&/&3"5*0/ ] 5*.#&3 130$&44*/( ] .*/*/( ] )";"3%064 "3&"4 ] 8"5&3 8"45& */'0!&*4&37*$&4 /; 888 &*4&37*$&4 /; Upgrades to the Hokitika Swimming Pool are being staged so the swimming pool is open during the summer months and closed during the winter for work to be done. “The projects have underpinned the economy of the area during a tough time....” Contact Brian Anderson Mechanical Engineering Consultants to Westland District Council Commercial, industrial, & domestic designers of energy e cient • Swimming Pool Systems • Ventilation & Air conditioning • Biomass, boiler plant & heating systems • Building and plant controls • Hot & cold water supply systems • Drainage b.anderson@brynmartin.co.nz | telephone 021 281 0008 Paul Tha Plumber Plumbing · Gasfitting · Drainlaying · Heating Franz Josef Glacier 021 141 3654 paul@ptplumber.nz Proud to be involvedwith Cron Street extension andwidening
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