The first stage in improving the look of Kurow's main street may get its biggest boost on Monday when the Ahuriri Community Board is likely to approve funding for the first stage.
A project team has been working on a Kurow streetscape plan for the past two years, with proposals being approved by the New Zealand Transport Agency in August and supported by the Waitaki District Council.
The team - made up of board member Calum Reid, Kurow Community representative Anna McKenzie, the council roading department's Ting Ge and council recreation officer Jane Matchett - has now put the plan to the board for first stage funding of $131,000. The total project is estimated to cost $381,000.
The plan focuses on the main street (State Highway 83) and where side streets meet, including SH82. Impetus for the plan has also come from construction of the new twin bridges across the Waitaki River and new approaches at the Kurow and Hakataramea ends.
Recreation manager Erik van der Spek and roading manager Michael Voss, in a report to the board, said a preferred concept had been completed and budgets estimated for the work.
It was planned to prioritise and complete work worth $131,000 in the first stage.
Funding was available for that - $25,000 from the Ahuriri improvements fund and $124,025 from the Kurow amenity fund ($18,000 this year and $106,025 in reserves).
The rest could be completed with a loan of $210,000, but this would increase the Kurow rate.