Brighton community puts people first
Kirsten Carey, a beachside resident who loves living in New Brighton, takes issue with its characterisation as a ‘‘black hole’’ of funding.
In response to Dr Greg Clydesdale’s article on the costly ‘‘black hole of New Brighton’’, I would suggest his research is a little superficial.
The amount spent by the Christchurch City Council in New Brighton over the years is relatively small in comparison with other projects, both existing and proposed – for example, the coastal walkway and stopbanks from Ferrymead to Sumner. Neither has he taken into account the rich and diverse community of New Brighton who clamour for an imaginative vision of the future.
New Brighton and its neighbouring seaside suburbs are alive and well, and now impatiently await the Master Plan for the New Brighton Centre to be implemented. Any major (or minor) development in New Brighton needs to be seen as part of the regeneration of not just New Brighton, but the whole city.
The sooner all our coastal and water edges are celebrated, protected, enhanced and seen for the stunning assets they are, the sooner we will move forward.
Clydesdale believes the New Brighton pier was and is a false solution to healing the area’s woes. The pier is, and has been, a resounding success. It spans 300 metres, which makes it among the longest in Australasia. It is held as an icon of New Brighton and Christchurch. It is a major tourist attraction, architecturally designed to be a place where people can feel close to the ocean with expansive views from the entrance to Lyttelton in the south to Kaikoura in the north. Its adjacent library/restaurant building is also a joy to be in, where one can look out at the beach and the sea.
The original cost of the pier was covered thanks to the Pier and Foreshore Society and the New Brighton community. For 30 years the New Brighton community rallied for another pier to be built after the original one came down in 1965. The Pier and Foreshore Society had campaigned to save the original. When this didn’t eventuate, the group continued lobbying for a new pier. They raised $2 million and this was then matched by funding from the Christchurch City Council. This same determined group of dedicated people are still involved and keen to see New Brighton thrive.
New Brighton and its coastal surrounds are strong communities that continue to work and fight for everything they have and need. They have shown they want to be heard. When the city council asked for submissions on Christchurch’s Long Term Plan, more than 40 per cent of them came from this one suburb.
New Brighton is the venue of a number of free community events which all of Christchurch is invited to, such as:
* Coast to Coast – every February this event finishes at New Brighton and attracts thousands of spectators to cheer on finishing competitors.
* The NZ Sandcastle competition, held annually in February. This attracted over 20,000 people last year.
* Kite day, held in January. Kite makers from around NZ and the world travel to participate.
* New Brighton Rockabilly Show and Shine – in conjunction with New Brighton’s Seaside Market, this event hosts an annual car show each November.
* Guy Fawkes – the pier is a stunning venue attracting well over 10,000 people.
* The New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships (nationals) will be held at New Brighton beach between 16 and 19 March next year. This is one of the largest events in New Zealand and caters for U16 through to Masters, seeing almost 1500 athletes compete over four days of competition.
Other attractions of this seaside area include:
* A sandy beach, suitable for swimming and surfing, stretching 18km from the Waimakariri rivermouth in the north to the spit in the south.
* An estuarine habitat of the godwit/kuaka (NZ’s bird of the year 2015), and home of the Pleasant Point Yacht Club.
* The New Brighton Seaside Market – every Saturday in the pedestrian part of the New Brighton Mall.
* Home of the first surf lifesaving club in New Zealand (established in 1910), as well as North Beach Surf Club and South New Brighton Surf Club.
* Rawhiti Domain, with council-run golf links, tennis courts, dog park, rugby fields, cricket ovals, netball courts, community garden, archery club and children’s play area.
* Seaside and estuary walking tracks.
The people of New Brighton are very aware we need a fresh focus for our area. We have many hardworking community-minded people who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes putting forward ideas as to how we can move this community’s economy forward. (Believe it or not, we do not want more retail shops either. In this regard we agree with Clydesdale.)
All the New Brighton community is asking for is a fair and equitable amount of council funding, plus an innovative strategic plan that is not just on paper but put into action with and for our community. That means council funding that comes from our rates, to develop and sustain our area.
Innovation can be large or small. Many small innovations accumulating over time can amount to a major shift.
Dr Clydesdale, we would welcome you to come and enjoy our beach and community and be part of our economic recovery. We are happy to continue swimming with the waves, putting people first.
The sooner all our coastal and water edges are celebrated, protected, enhanced and seen for the stunning assets they are, the sooner we will move forward.