After a $6000 grant towards the clock from Meridian's Waitaki Community Fund last month, the Waitaki Valley Community Society is just $2000 away from funding the construction of the clock, which will also have a digital temperature gauge.
Kurow Museum and Information Centre co-ordinator Carron Cossens said about eight years ago a community group known in Kurow as "The Weather Men'' disbanded.
"They donated just over $3000 to the [Waitaki Valley Community] society with the intent of it going towards some sort of town clock with a temperature capacity,'' Ms Cossens said.
"Because of limited funds, and also wanting something that met the heritage theme of our town, it took some time to find someone capable of building such a clock for us.''
The society was "absolutely delighted'' to have contracted Paul O'Brien, of Timeworx, who would take eight weeks to construct the clock once sufficient funds were secured.
The clock form was "quite intricate'' in design, she said.
The clock will be in the town's main street, outside the Kurow Museum and Information Centre.
"We think it's such a worthwhile project, particularly with the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail now off-road from Kurow through to Duntroon [because] there's going to be more interest in people just riding from Kurow,'' Ms Cossens said.
"It's even just a lovely ride of about 20 minutes from Kurow to the [Pasquale Kurow] winery ... That's awesome.''
Ahuriri Community Board member, and Waitaki Valley Community Society chairman, Calum Reid said the town clock would be a feature for the town and bring the town up to a more modern standard.
It would also add to Kurow's new look, the upgrade of the town's main street having recently been completed.
The $150,000 town upgrade project was aimed at reducing traffic speeds, improving traffic flow, creating a clear community identity and providing an attractive environment to encourage people to stop in Kurow.
"The last thing that has to be done now is the upgrade of street lighting,'' Mr Reid said.
Lights at the western end of the town have been upgraded to LED, while the centre and eastern end are yet to be completed.
"We're hoping to get some heritage-style lights put in [the town centre],'' Mr Reid said.
