Wanted, people to be beside the seaside tomorrow for a carnival to celebrate the completion of the first stage of a development plan for the Oamaru Harbour, including the Great Oamaru Seaside Cycle Ride.
Prime Minister John Key, who will be in Oamaru for the National Party's Mainland (South Island) regional conference, will open the Wansbeck St extension to the harbour and 1.3km cycle and walkway this afternoon.
The opening of the two-lane street extension, part of the $700,000 first stage in the harbour redevelopment by the Waitaki District Council, will take place at 1.10pm, followed by the opening of the Harbourside walk and cycleway at 1.35pm, then the 1882 Oamaru Cycle Works penny-farthing tourism venture.
Festivities begin at 11am and include free train rides, a market, concert of music and entertainment recognising Empire Day in Harbour St, a best dressed cycle and rider competition and display by a penny-farthing stunt rider.
Cyclists can ride on the new track from Friendly Bay to the penguin colony, receiving a certificate of participation.
Harbour subcommittee chairman Gary Kircher said, because of government subsidies, the value gained from the project far outweighed the cost to ratepayers.
The project received $528,000 from the New Zealand Transport Agency equivalent to 67% of the total project.
