Promenades link Caroline Bay's new dunes, boardwalk and beach

The final stage in the redevelopment of Caroline Bay has begun.

Construction company Downer EDI Works Ltd, which has been awarded the $1.2 million contract for the work, took possession of the site yesterday and is expected to complete the work by the end of the year.

It will be the final phase in a redevelopment for which construction began in 2004 and planning began in 2001.

Timaru District Council parks and recreation manager Bill Steans said some items in stage three of the project were still unpriced, which he expected would raise its cost to just under $2 million.

This would bring the total cost of all three stages, including consultants and the public consultation process, to about $5 million, he said.

Aside from two new car parks, one near each end of the bay, possibly the most striking feature of the final stage will be the creation of sand dunes. Undulating in height up to 4.5m, they will start by a new wetland between the Virtue Ave entrance and the Benvenue Cliff.

Except for an opening in the middle of the bay, the dunes will extend across to the new car park at the Marine Pde end of the bay.

An area for beach volleyball courts will be set aside near this car park.

Mr Steans said a boardwalk would run the length of the dunes, with access points to the beach, and the Piazza Promenade and the East West Promenade would be extended to link with the boardwalk.

New information boards would tell stories about the bay including its use by early Maori and whalers, natural history and the development of the port, he said.

The approval of the design and new location of the bird aviary meant remaining work from stage two of the bay redevelopment could go ahead, including a ‘‘meet and greet'' area on the existing aviary site.

An area of lawn and seating, it had been conceived as a convenient place for visitors arriving through the viaduct entrance to meet friends before going on to events or activities in Caroline Bay, he said.

The aviary would be moved about 40m to the southern bay of the tennis courts.

Other stage two work to resume included an elevated beach lookout at the end of the Piazza Promenade and new toilets inside the Port Loop circle.

Work was expected to be completed by the end of December. However, this depended on the council securing a resource consent from Environment Canterbury for the creation of the sand dunes, he said.

Mr Steans said there had been interest from other councils in the design concept for the bay. However, its sheltered nature and natural build-up of sand set it apart from most beachfronts throughout the country, which tended to experience erosion.