About $60,000 will be spent on a roading upgrade in Oamaru's historic precinct if a council recommendation is adopted at next's week Waitaki District Council meeting.
The council looked at several possibilities, including the temporary closure of Harbour St to vehicles during certain periods of the year, speed restrictions of 30kmh from the Humber St, Itchen St, Wansbeck St and Tyne St approaches during certain times of the year, time-restricted and new parking areas, as well as a raised pedestrian platform and retractable steel bollards at the entry to Harbour St.
The council declined to release a copy of the report yesterday when it made public the options for the precinct, stating it would be released to media next week after it was finalised.
Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher said he talked to a range of businesses in the area about their concerns and interests. He said there was a mix of support for the proposal, but everyone could understand the reasons for the recommendation.
''All the measures we are proposing are to keep people safe while ensuring businesses can still operate successfully.''
He said work needed to happen at the precinct and in particular Harbour St given several reported near misses between pedestrians and vehicles.
''It doesn't feel like a normal street or look like a normal street.''
