Harbour St in Oamaru’s heritage quarter is likely to be pedestrian-only for fewer hours each weekend this summer.
The Waitaki District Council’s assets committee yesterday recommended the council adopt a Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm closure for the historic street.
Last year the council closed the one-way street to cars from 10am to 4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
But after two trial car-free periods and several business surveys, in September the council voted to support a closure on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the Labour weekend to Easter period.
And after the council’s latest survey to determine what hours Harbour and Tyne Sts businesses wanted the closure for, the assets committee voted in favour of council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen’s recommendation for the street to remain car-free from 10am to 4pm on those days.
The timing of the pedestrian-only access would take into consideration the concerns of Harbour Street Collective Cafe, which was required to have a "drive-up available for patrons" as part of its liquor licence, Mr Jorgensen’s report said.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said some in the community would view the reduced hours of the street’s car-free status as "a small step backwards".
"There’s a lot of people who want to see the street closed 24/7... But we’re trying to balance public expectations along with, the businesses that have to survive," he said.
