The new Riverside Park development in downtown Alexandra, Kāmoanahaehae, has been secured with a retaining wall, and landscaping is underway.

Stage one of the $3.2M project at the end of Tarbert Street was recently reprioritised to ensure better stability of the site.

The parks and recreation team at Central Otago District Council told councillors last month that the $400,000 ramp from the edge of the riverbank to a floating jetty would need to be completed first.

The ramp was intended to be the main feature of the design, allowing people access right down to the water’s edge.

But designs had to be flood resistant and meet Geotech requirements, and it was decided nine meter poles would need to be driven into the ground to support the ramp.

Until that phase was completed, contractors were not able to finish and concrete the plaza area, with the risk of vibrations cracking it.

Another update from council in the last week outlined the latest developments, including the retaining wall (clad in decorative timber), and in the next week paving stones will be laid to better define the plaza area and pathways.

The new plaza area in downtown Alexandra has opened up the confluence of the Manuherikia and Clutha Matau-Au rivers for the public to enjoy. 

In the 2021 – 31 Long Term Plan council allocated $650,000 over three years for the construction of the Kāmoanahaehae - Riverside Park, and additional funding of $723,848 was also received from Otago Community Trust ($100,000), Central Lakes Trust ($250,000), Lottery Environmental and Heritage Fund ($48,848), and MBIE TiF funding ($325,000).

Construction began in September 2024 on Stage 1 which included several additional permissions, underground work and investigations required for archaeological authority. 

Additional work was undertaken by Otago Regional Council in the removal of the riverbank trees from the traffic bridge to Tarbert Street.

The Wairoa Manuherekia Trust provided $120,000 for the removal of additional willow trees from the Manuherekia riverbank and an off-road trail was currently underway, linking the park to the Linger and Die and onto the Otago Central Rail Trail.

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