Ouse Street footpath upgrade nears completion

Published on 29 July 2026

Waitaki District Council is putting the finishing touches on a footpath and vehicle crossing upgrade on Ouse Street, Oamaru. Whitestone Contracting Ltd. has delivered the work on Council's behalf.

The footpath had become a trip hazard after tree roots had pushed up through the asphalt in several places, and earlier watermain upgrade work had left patches across the footpath outside almost every property.

The footpath surface and vehicle crossings have now been replaced.

Whitestone Contracting started work in early June. This month’s wet weather pushed the programme back, and the footpath and vehicle entrance work should be completed by the first week of August.

The old vehicle entrances used “bridge style” crossings. These raised sections blocked the kerb and stopped stormwater draining freely along the road. These new crossings let water flow along the channel as it should, improving the drainage on Ouse Street.

New street trees will follow, and Council has chosen species that suit an urban residential street, so they won't cause the same root damage in future.

We thank residents and businesses on Ouse Street for their patience as the weather delays affected this work, and appreciate the work of our contractors in delivering this important infrastructure upgrade.

ENDS

media@waitaki.govt.nz