What’s happened since 2019

Work began on Great King Street’s hospital block on Monday, 13 June 2022, and on Great King Street’s Centre City Mall block during the week starting Monday, 20 June 2022.

This work involves the replacement of old underground pipes, followed by above-ground improvements such as new footpaths, streetlights, and street furniture. Pipe renewal work on both blocks is expected to run until the end of 2022.

Our priority during construction on Great King Street is to maintain access to and from Dunedin Hospital, as well as businesses and car parking facilities in the area.

These blocks of Great King St will remain open to one-way southbound traffic, throughout the construction period. This means vehicles accessing the main hospital entrance or emergency department need to enter Great King St from Frederick St, while the Centre City Mall carpark and DCC Great King St car parking building can be accessed by vehicle from the Hanover St end.

Work began on George Street’s Farmers Block, between Moray Place and St Andrew Street, on 26 April 2022 and is expected to finish in October 2022.

Initially the work will focus on the replacement of old underground pipes before above ground work to improve the safety, accessibility and amenity of the area.

The block is fully closed to traffic. Pedestrian access is available, although there will be times when the existing footpaths are narrowed to allow work to take place.

A closure of the Moray Place/George Street intersection will also be required at most times from the week starting Monday, 15 August to early October. This closure is required to complete the connection of underground infrastructure and to use as a staging (storage) area for equipment and materials as we begin paving on the Farmers Block.

This phase of enabling works on Hanover Street (between George Street and Filleul Street) and Filleul Street (between Cargill Street and London Street) began 14 March 2022 and is expected to be completed in August 2022.

As of 23 May, vehicles can enter Hanover Street, via the George Street end, to access the Meridian Mall carpark entrance.

As of 10 June 2022, Filleul Street is fully open to traffic.

This section involves about 500m of underground pipes in Hanover Street (between George Street and Filleul Street), as well as in Filleul Street (between Hanover Street and London Street).

New traffic lights will also be installed at the Hanover/Filleul Street intersection.

This phase of enabling works started on 11 January 2022.

Work in London Street was completed in April.

As of 10 June 2022, Frederick Street is fully open to traffic.

This phase of works involved replacing about 350m of old pipes, as well as installing new kerb and channelling, footpaths and road resurfacing.

The first stage of the enabling works in lower London Street and north Filleul Street was completed, on schedule, in December 2021.

The work included replacing old water and wastewater pipes on both sides of London and Filleul streets, connecting the new pipes to properties and restoring the road with new asphalt. New footpaths have also been installed.

On 28 September 2021, the Council made the decision to adopt the one-way design option with vehicles travelling south bound. The one-way design offers more space for amenity, place-making and other uses. This design improves the road safety for all users especially at the five-way George, London, Pitt and Frederick Streets intersection.

For more information about the Council decision you can read the report - Report to Council - Central City Plan Retail Quarter Detailed Business Case (new window | PDF) or watch the meeting on YouTube at Council Meeting - 28 September 2021 (new window)

What is the detailed business case?

The DCC is applying for two detailed business cases (DBC).

The first DBC is through the NZ Treasury Better Business Cases process. This is the DBC presented to the Council during the 28 September 2021 Council meeting. The purpose of a better business case is to provide objective analysis in a consistent format to decision-makers. This allows for better comparability and transparency and enables the government to make smart investment decisions that maximise public value.

For more information about this DBC visit https://www.treasury.govt.nz/information-and-services/state-sector-leadership/investment-management/better-business-cases-bbc

The second DBC is for the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency co-investment in the transport elements of the project. To ensure the DCC gets the most benefit from its investment in infrastructure and amenity, we have been undertaking a two-stage business case process.

The first stage (the initial business case) was completed in 2020.

In November 2020, following a peer review of the initial business case findings, the DCC’s Planning and Environment Committee agreed to go ahead with the DBC for George Street to assess the Council’s preferred option: a one-way design with flexibility to go to a two-way shared street design.

To find out more about the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency DBC process visit https://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/learning-and-resources/business-case-approach-guidance/single-stage-business-case/detailed-business-case/

Who is leading the DBC process for DCC?

DCC staff are working with consultants AECOM (part of the Ō3 Collective: Isaac (construction), AECOM and Jasmax) to advance the DBC. This includes further targeted engagement, particularly with the Central City Advisory Group.

What follows the DBC process?

DCC staff will seek approval from the Council to proceed to detailed design of the approved option.

Once the Council has confirmed its preferred option, the Waka Kotahi business case will be finalised and submitted to Waka Kotahi to confirm its level of co-investment.

What is enabling work?

Enabling work is a package of physical changes to Great King and Filleul Streets, and streets intersecting George Street (Frederick, Hanover, St Andrew and London Streets). This work aims to:

• reduce the impact of temporary road closures when we start physical work on George Street.
• improve east to west connectivity and reduce the impact of construction of the new Dunedin Hospital on traffic flow in the central city.
• provide motorists with alternative options to George Street, to help make that street a more people-focused place.

What enabling work is planned?

We have started work in London and Filleul Streets and are planning work in Great King Street and several other side streets intersecting George Street such as Frederick, Hanover and St Andrew Streets.

• On Great King Street, between St Andrew and Frederick Streets, we plan to improve the street and develop it into a more permanent route for buses. There is potential to improve access into the Great King Street carpark building. The pedestrian environment will also be improved by updating footpaths and adding new seating and planting.
• In Filleul and London Streets, we plan to improve traffic flows, access to the Meridian Mall carpark and provide an alternative route to using George Street for those vehicles travelling north to south through the city.
• At the Frederick, Hanover, St Andrew and London Street intersections, we aim is to improve the east to west traffic flow and pedestrian connections into George Street from surrounding areas. A focus will be improving links from the bus hub and bus routes along Great King Street back to George Street.
• We are also planning to improve amenities for cyclists such as more bike parks and e-bike charging stations.
• We will be replacing underground infrastructure such as water, wastewater and stormwater pipes, where needed.

Is this work part of the Retail Quarter (George Street) upgrade?

Yes. However, this work isn’t tied to a specific design option for George Street. This work focuses on the wider transport network and aims to benefit the way traffic and pedestrians move around the city.

When will the work begin?

Geotechnical testing began in June 2021. Road and footpath improvements and pipe replacement work is being carried out in London and Filleul Streets. This is the first stage of enabling works.

The enabling work is being planned in parallel with the Detailed Business Case for the Retail Quarter (George Street) upgrade and its impact will be factored into designs for the Retail Quarter.

Work will stop over December and there will be limited construction work in January 2022 to ensure as little disruption as possible over the Christmas/New Year period.

What does this mean for businesses and parking?

We will keep working with property owners, tenants and businesses to limit disruption as much as possible. The contractor will make sure property access is maintained during construction. There will be temporary carparking changes as the work is carried out.

When will work start on George Street?

Some geotechnical investigations started in June 2021. We expect construction to begin in early 2022.

What is the Central City Plan (CCP)?

The CCP is designed to guide development of the Dunedin central city area.

The CCP is a place-based plan that divides the central city area into quarters. These quarters are intended to reflect the different types of activities that occur in these respective parts of the city. It encourages different types of development in different areas and helps to foster a distinctive character in each.

The four quarters that make up the CCP and their current statuses are:

• The Warehouse Precinct: Jetty, Vogel and Bond Streets. The Warehouse Precinct was the first quarter to have been completed.
• The Retail Quarter (George Street) upgrade. The indicative business case has been completed and further consultation is needed to progress the Detailed Business Case.
• The Cultural and Entertainment Quarter: the Octagon and Lower Stuart Street. Still to be developed.
• The Creative Quarter: Princes Street and the Exchange. Still to be developed.

What is the Dunedin Retail Quarter (George Street) upgrade project?

The DCC will carry out a major upgrade to the city’s main retail area in George Street, from Moray Place to Albany Street, as identified in the DCC’s 10-year plan 2018-2028. Improvements will also be made to nearby streets.

The project aims to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, making a vibrant city centre where people want to visit to spend time, socialise, shop and do business. At the same time, the city’s 150-year-old underground wastewater and pipes will be replaced.

The project has been allocated about $28 million (excluding the pipe replacement work, which is funded separately) and is scheduled to be built and completed by early 2024.

Community engagement through the Central City Advisory Group will support the next phase of the project.

What is the timeframe?

Geotechnical investigations started in June 2021. We expect enabling work to start in September 2021 (subject to Council approval), with physical work on George Street to start early 2022 and be completed by early 2024.

A final timeframe will not be known until a design is complete and a contractor is appointed.

What is the cost of the project?

Dunedin’s 10-year plan allocates $60 million for the Central City Plan developments. The cost of the development of the Retail Quarter is expected to be $18m - $28m, depending on the final design.

How is it being funded?

Funding will be provided by the DCC. We are also seeking funding through Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, through the DBC.

What about all the other DCC projects going on in the city?

The Retail Quarter (George Street) upgrade project will work closely with other projects across the city.

Where can I find reports on the Retail Quarter (George Street) upgrade?

https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/policies,-plans-and-strategies/plans/central-city-plan/retail-quarter

When will construction begin?

Underground work and investigations began in June 2021.

Construction work in the Retail Quarter is expected to begin in early 2022.

When is construction expected to be finished?

The Retail Quarter (George Street) upgrade is expected to be completed by early 2024 but a final timeframe will not be known until a design is complete and a contractor is appointed.

How will the DCC minimise business disruption?

We aim to reduce disruption and protect the city’s retail area by:

• talking to landowners, property owners and businesses who will be affected by construction before, during and after construction, closely monitoring the project once it is underway and providing regular updates throughout the project.
• Working with the Retail Quarter Construction Reference Group to work out ways to reduce construction impacts and to identify events, activities and economic development opportunities with those businesses directly affected to ensure the area remains a vibrant destination before and during construction, thereby managing and minimising disruption during construction.

How will the DCC maintain access to buildings?

The appointed contractor will work with affected landowners, property owners, tenants and businesses to ensure access is maintained during construction.

While vehicle access may not be possible for periods of time due to the nature of construction, the contractor will ensure pedestrian access is available during business operating hours.

How will the project affect on-street carparking?

This will be determined by the final design. However, on-street parking will be disrupted during construction. Parking buildings will remain open.

How will the project help retailers and other businesses?

Feedback from the community is that the Retail Quarter is becoming a less attractive place to visit. Some sectors of the community do not feel safe or welcome in the area. The growth of online shopping is also impacting local retailers. This project aims to create a place that a wide range of people want to visit, feel safe moving around in and are compelled to spend time in.

While the Council can work to improve the number of people visiting, there are also opportunities for the business community to think about how they could turn these visitors into customers through changes to the types of products sold, marketing, promotions, incentives and how the area is managed.

Will this project help animals and insects?

Planting trees and shrubs in the Retail Quarter, in particular along George Street, will improve and attract more birds and insects into the quarter.

Won’t large trees block out the sun or hide our heritage buildings?

Care will be taken to select the best species and size of trees and shrubs for planting in the Retail Quarter and along George Street, in particular for the safety of pedestrians, vehicles, cyclists and other modes of transport.

Will upgrading the Retail Quarter reduce carbon emissions?

Promoting walking, cycling and public transport, planting trees and plants and environmentally conscious design can contribute to helping to reduce carbon emissions.

We are working through options for how we reduce carbon emissions generated during construction.

Will our heritage buildings be retained?

Yes, many buildings in the Retail Quarter and along George Street are scheduled heritage buildings and, as part of the project, we will be encouraging building owners to restore and improve their buildings.

When finished, will it worsen traffic congestion in the CBD?

The project team is undertaking data collection and transport modelling to reduce the risk of making existing traffic congestion worse. However, with continued reliance on motor vehicles, a growing population and the number of construction projects underway, the number of cars coming into the city is likely to continue to grow. For this reason, we are also trying to make other methods of getting into the city more efficient and attractive.

When finished, will the streets in the Retail Quarter be safer?

Improving the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users is a key motivator for the project. The design of the Retail Quarter will be strongly influenced by this goal. Speed reductions, intersection changes, new layouts and material changes aim to make the area safer for people to move about.

Which quarter will you focus on when the Retail Quarter is completed?

It is expected the next project will focus on the Creative Quarter, including Princes Street and the Exchange Square.

Construction is underway, with work taking place in stages between now and 2024. We are finalising the full staging schedule and will let you know about this once it has been finalised.

Each stage will take several months. During each stage, pedestrian, delivery and essential service access will be maintained. However, there will be no public access for vehicles or on-street parking available in construction areas.

Businesses and residents in areas where construction will begin in 2022 will soon receive more information and an invitation to drop in sessions and workshops which will further detail the construction approach and help answer any questions you have. We encourage you to take part in these sessions and/or arrange to meet our team to talk through solutions to any specific issues or opportunities you can identify.

We acknowledge the construction work is disruptive, which is why we have established initiatives to help minimise the impacts on local businesses. These initiatives include:

• opening a project office at 125 George Street where our project staff will be available to meet with businesses and residents to quickly resolve any issues, and where more information about the project will be available to the public
• developing a marketing campaign to encourage people to continue to shop local and continue to visit George Street during the construction works
• doing our best to make temporary tweaks to nearby on-street parking arrangements to help offset the loss of on-street parking within construction areas
• doing our best to provide additional signage to let pedestrians know that shops and eateries within construction areas are still open for business
• providing digital maps of work areas for you to use in your own marketing material to help show customers how to access your business
• a mentoring initiative in conjunction with Business South, which will offer business mentoring and capability building for local retailers
• digital training workshops to help upskill local businesses in the digital space – e.g., website, social media, and database marketing
• working with Dunedin Dream Brokerage to implement a series of pop-up events in and around the area to encourage people to visit the area in the lead up to and during construction works.

Email us at totally-georgeous@dcc.govt.nz if you have any questions.

When will I be consulted?

Consultation has been completed for the George Street project. Further opportunities for public comment will occur as the design progresses however, there will be no further formal engagement.

Will there be more consultation on the preliminary design?

Council and the project team will continue to engage with key stakeholders throughout the project to maintain communication as the design is developed and throughout the construction period.

Who was consulted in the stakeholder and public consultation?

The full list of stakeholders is included in the Consultation Evaluation report, submissions and verbatim comments which can be found in the Central City Plan report - Planning and Environment Committee 11 June 2019.

Were the retail community and businesses included in the consultation?

All George Street retailers, managers and building owners were invited to a workshop during the consultation period. Additional workshops were hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. All submissions received through consultation can be found appended to the Consultation evaluation report.

Are you proposing pedestrianisation?

No, the preliminary concept does not include pedestrianisation of George Street. The street is less activated after 5pm, natural surveillance from cars and other through moving traffic is maintained, which is in line with the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) guidelines. The design includes electronic bollards in some blocks which allows the space to be closed off to through traffic as required.

Will there be less car parking?

The design includes an indicative allocation of on street car parking spaces, delivery, drop off spaces and mobility spaces. The details of the exact locations and allocation of these spaces will be refined as the design develops. Car parking located outside of George Street is not proposed to be changed at this stage.

How many car parking spaces are there currently around George Street?

Indicatively there are approximately 3000 car parking spaces within a 500-metre walking distance from George Street. This includes on street car parks and those located in car parking buildings.

There are 56 car parking spaces located on George Street. There are 35 between Moray Place and Frederick Street, and 21 between Frederick Street and Albany Street.

Will the proposed design damage retail activity in the street?

The preliminary concept developed here aims to create a more pedestrian friendly environment where people thrive, want to repeatedly shop, work, live, visit, do business and meet friends which offers, entertainment, events and is accessible for everyone.

The project team have assessed the specific characteristics of George Street and how it is used, its climatic conditions, its traffic safety statistics and many other criteria to achieve the preliminary design with best practice principles from the Global Street Design Guide.

How will the street be more accessible for mobility/disabled people?

The preliminary design has been developed through ongoing consultation with many accessibility groups across Dunedin. These include people with physical and mental disabilities, breast feeding mothers groups, sensory impairments and other access issues.

The detailed design of George Street which will evolve from this preliminary design, will be subject to an Accessibility Audit.

Will emergency vehicles be able to access the street?

Yes, all emergency vehicles will be able to access George Street at all times.

Can parades and other events still happen?

Yes, the preliminary design has been developed in consultation with DCC Events Team and external events providers in Dunedin to allow for existing events that happen through George Street. Through the Activity Plan, more events will be proposed in George Street.

Have you considered deliveries accessing George Street?

Yes, deliveries will be able to access George Street and utilise drop off spaces.

Will the underground services be upgraded?

The project includes the upgrade of all 3 Waters upgrades to George Street.

Will this exact design be constructed?

The concept presented to Council is an initial guide to set the direction and function of George Street. The footpath elements, materials, street furniture, artistic elements and refinement of the design will continue to evolve through to technical details later.

Will there be more traffic congestion?

The preliminary design will include changing intersection priorities from the north/south movements along George Street to an east/west priority, moving traffic across George Street. Traffic modelling is being developed and will be used to inform final designs.

Does this proposal consider the other developments taking place in the city?

Yes, the George Street project was initiated first as it has less impact on other major developments within the city. The project team will continue to work closely with other projects across the city.

How will you ensure people can still come to George Street?

The preliminary concept is designed to increase foot traffic and improve the pedestrian experience of George Street. This includes making it accessible by many modes of transport without jeopardising how it looks, functions and, its’ vibrancy.

Will there be disruption?

There will be disruption within George Street through the construction period.

How will this disruption be managed?

Contractors will work closely with retailers and building owners to minimise disruption during construction.

Does the proposal include a tram through George Street?

At this stage, a tram has not been included in the preliminary design for George Street.

Does the preliminary design include any environmental measures or future proofing for climate change?

There have been flooding events in George Street in the past, so environmentally sustainable measures have been included into the preliminary concept. These include rain gardens, permeable paving and infiltration gaps. Trees and vegetation have been included throughout the design and the preliminary design maximises the sunny part of the street, whilst greenery slows wind speed and provides shade.

Will the design make the street safer?

The concept includes making traffic safety improvements by reducing traffic speed, shortening crossing distances and improving safety for all at intersections.

Will I be able to have outdoor seating outside my shop/premises?

Yes. Subject to appropriate permissions, activation of space outside of shops will be encouraged.