The planned six-week trial in lower Thames St — using $60,000 of government Better Off funding — will temporarily narrow the road layout on the eastern side.
It will result in Thames St being reduced to one lane from Itchen St to Taste Cafe beside the historic Empire Hotel, and the addition of new speed-limit advisories for the area.
For the trial, a plywood footpath extension will be built over part of the closed eastern lane.
Existing carparks will be moved to the west of the footpath extension and the expanded pedestrian area will be augmented by "design elements" including seats, planter boxes and artificial grass.
The concept is based on the Central Oamaru Masterplan, approved by the council last September, in a bid to revitalise the CBD.
The trial area is "to optimise space for people as an adaptive community space", placemaking lead Cyndi Christensen’s report to the WDC roading subcommittee said this week.
Acting director, strategy performance and design Louise Van der Voort said it would provide an opportunity to see how the new street layout would work for pedestrians, traffic and the wider community.
"This will be evaluated through the trial and if it becomes something we want to do permanently, it will come back for a formal report and consultation with the community," she said.
However, during subcommittee meeting it emerged the trial start date on Tuesdaywas well over a month ahead of the next full district council meeting for ratification.
Subcommittee chairman Jim Thomson said he took it the proposed six-week trial had to be ratified by the full council.
Cr Jim Hopkins said it appeared the subcommittee was being asked to make a recommendation yet the council was not scheduled to meet until March 25.
"If indeed it has to be approved by council, the trial cannot commence in mid-February," he said.
Ms Christensen said the proposal had been brought to the subcommittee following an informal discussion with Oamaru Ward district councillors in early December.
"It was informally approved by the ward councillors.
"We used that as our approval process to move forward and chose the date, and ... the starting point from that."
Cr Hopkins said he did not wish to be pedantic, but a brief extraordinary council meeting at least would be needed. Otherwise the trial start would have to be deferred until after March 25.
"Informal approval at a meeting that wasn’t public isn’t the same as the recommendation that says the decision has to be approved by council," he said.
Ms Van der Voort apologised for "some confusion" over the trial approval process.
"Everything is lined up for the 18th February, so yes we take your point and will look at how we organise that."
Cr Thomson noted all that still depended on the subcommittee, "if we so choose to recommend it today."
The committee voted to recommend council approve it.
Ms Christensen noted the trial area had been chosen after a six-month inquiry because the neighbouring businesses were "on board".
This included in-kind services equivalent to at least the $60,000 Better Off contribution for what was a community-led idea.
Apart from during an overnight set-up of the trial area, the existing carparking would not be affected, she said.
