News
Invercargill’s Queens Park is set to reopen in stages following major damage caused by last month’s severe weather event. Although the state of emergency in Southland was officially lifted last Friday, recovery work continues across the region, particularly in one of the city’s most beloved green spaces.
Council’s Manager of Parks and Recreation, Caroline Rain, said that while several parks and reserves in Invercargill and Bluff had reopened after thorough safety assessments, Queens Park – spanning around 81 hectares – would need much longer to recover.
“Queens Park won’t look or feel the same for a long time,” Rain said.
The first area to reopen will include the animal reserve, playground, and Cheeky Llama Café on Saturday 15 November.
“The landscape of virtually every part of our beautiful park has been altered, and in some cases it will be years before it resembles what it once was,” Rain said.
“Some stands of trees have had a significant reduction in numbers, as many have been uprooted. Others have had a number of limbs or branches removed entirely. It’s been pretty devastating for our team to see the scale of damage inflicted at Queens Park, and we expect it might be quite confronting for everybody.
“But change is part of nature, and this is an opportunity for us to see the landscape evolve and grow in new ways. The look and feel of Queens Park might be unfamiliar for awhile, but it’s still the same special place at the heart of Invercargill – just with a new face.”
The second phase of reopening will include the area surrounding the band rotunda, extending south to Feldwick Gates. This section is planned to reopen on Friday 5 December.
“We’re doing everything we can to ensure Christmas can be celebrated in Queens Park,” Rain said.
Other areas, such as the Queens Park Golf Club, Coronation Avenue, and the outer walking tracks from Kelvin Street, Herbert Street, and Queens Drive, will require further work. These parts are not expected to reopen in the near future due to safety concerns.
“Queens Park is in many ways the heart of our community – it’s where people come together to create memories with friends and whānau, relax, and connect with nature. The damage caused by October’s weather event was significant, but the Parks team and our contractors have worked relentlessly to restore the park and make it safe for everyone to enjoy again.
“We know how loved Queens Park is, and that our community is eager to be able to visit it again. We are really grateful for the patience and encouragement of everybody in the community, as we’ve worked to ensure that our green spaces can be accessed safely once more.”
A map outlining the phased reopening of Queens Park has been released to help visitors plan their visits.
