A second section of Queens Park in Invercargill has reopened earlier than expected, giving residents a welcomed surprise ahead of the festive season.
The staged reopening of the city’s iconic green space was brought forward to Friday 28 November. The newly accessible areas include parts that were initially expected to remain closed for several more months after a severe windstorm in late October caused widespread damage.
The initial phase of reopening took place on 15 November, following extensive clean-up efforts. With continued hard work by Invercargill City Council teams and contractors, the next section is now safe and open to the public.
“My warmest gratitude goes out to the staff and contractors who have been tirelessly working over the past few weeks to make the park safe,” said Council Manager Parks and Recreation Caroline Rain. “Every tree in the area has been thoroughly checked by arborists, and we’ve cleared away debris and assessed all pathways. We’re really excited to have this next section open again, and we appreciate everyone giving us the time to do this safely.”
The newly opened areas include the southern end of Coronation Avenue near the Band Rotunda, the Jessie Calder Garden, the Stumpery, and the south-eastern corner near the Blind Low Vision NZ building.
With the Southland Santa Parade scheduled for Saturday, Rain said there was extra motivation to reopen parts of the park in time for people to enjoy over the weekend. “It’s wonderful that the community will once again be able to include a visit to the heart of Queens Park in their weekend plans.”
Visitors are advised that temporary fences, hazard tape, and signage are still in place around areas that remain off-limits. A map showing open and closed areas is available on the Council’s website.
“We ask everyone to respect the boundaries in place and not go into any areas that are cordoned off,” Rain said. “Our staff and contractors will continue to make every effort to reopen the remaining areas of Queens Park as soon as possible.”
Some sections still require more extensive repairs before they can reopen, including the Queens Park Golf Club, the rest of Coronation Avenue, and tracks along the park’s perimeter from Kelvin Street, Herbert Street, and Queens Drive. Other city parks such as Donovan Park, Elizabeth Park, and Otepuni Gardens also remain closed for now.
Up-to-date information on park closures can be found on the Council website.