The Science Road / Erskine Carpark Safety improvements and carpark upgrades will get underway with fencing installation this Friday 28 November and works being progressively undertaken between next Monday 1 December 2025 and Thursday 19 February 2026.

What’s Happening

• Science Road becomes one-way: enter via Ilam Road, exit via Engineering Road.
• Daytime construction noise expected (concrete cutting, diggers, trucks).
• Fencing will move as works progress.

• Alternative parking: Arts, Māori Study Centre, UCSA, and Dovedale Campus carparks.
• Safe access will be maintained to Early Childhood Centre and Security Building.
• Tree replacement: Eight (8) trees will be removed, and sixteen (16) new trees are to be planted near the Security Building (see attached plan) in June 2026 (including edible cherry varieties). This supports the FM 2-for-1 replacement policy, and UC’s Biodiversity Plan and mahinga kai principles.

What You Need to Do

• Follow one-way traffic management and signage.
• Use alternative parking areas listed above.
• Observe entry/exit signage for open carparks.

Please direct all enquiries to fmassist@canterbury.ac.nz

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to improve safety and access in this area.

Facilities Management

 FM Audit- Fire Safety Signage

Facilities Management (FM) would like to advise key contacts and affected building users that, as part of our ongoing fire safety and compliance improvement programme, we are reviewing and updating all fire safety signage across UC buildings.

Maintaining clear, visible, and effective fire safety signage is a critical part of FM’s commitment to workplace safety and legislative compliance. These signs play a vital role in guiding evacuation paths and informing behaviour during emergencies. However, over time, signage can become damaged, outdated, or faded.

As part of this review, FM is conducting a full audit to identify and remove ineffective signage, replacing it with compliant alternatives where necessary. In some cases, signage may be relocated to a safer and more appropriate position.

We are taking a phased approach to ensure staff are informed of any changes to evacuation routes or egress paths. These improvements will be coordinated with warden training.

What you can do:

• Familiarize yourself with any new signage in your work area.
• Participate in training sessions and trial evacuations as they become available.

Improving our fire safety signage is not just about compliance—it’s about ensuring everyone’s safety.

Please refer any enquiries to fmassist@canterbury.ac.nz

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to maintaining a safe workplace.

A temporary closure of the entrance to  Ernest Rutherford 412 (teaching space) will be in place 7:00 AM Monday, 1 December until 5:00 PM Tuesday, 2 December.

FM contractors will be completing remedial fire protection work in the ceiling above the entrance, and the work area and access point will be cordoned off during this period.

Please direct all enquiries to fmassist@canterbury.ac.nz.