‘Safe’ red zone on residents’ wish list

Safety is the highest priority for residents being surveyed about future Christchurch red zone redevelopments.

Regenerate Christchurch, the organisation creating a plan for the city’s residential red zone, surveyed more than 1200 residents, including 300 former red zoners.

Community safety was the biggest need for 79 per cent of respondents.

When asked for more information, 63 per cent wanted buildings and infrastructure to be safe from natural hazards, and 59 per cent said it was essential that people were safe from crime.

Protection of the natural environment was important to 75 per cent of respondents, with particular focus given to protecting ground water and water quality.

Regenerate Christchurch chief executive Ivan Iafeta said he wanted the planning process to be as open to the public as possible.

The organisation will hold a community day in Wainoni today for people wanting information or input on the red zone plan – officially called the Otakaro Avon River Corridor Plan.

It will organise bus tours of the red zone to give people a sense of the size and opportunity of the land.

Regenerate Christchurch sent out a draft plan in December for initial public consultation.

Before the middle of the year, the organisation will engage groups of young people led by experienced designers and engineers, to test out the ideas and come up with plan concepts.

‘‘We kind of refine those down to a couple of key ones, and we put that out as a big exhibition,’’ Iafeta said.

A panel of 50 residents will then give advice on their preferred option.

From there, the plan goes through the statutory process under the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act to be approved for development.

The community day will be from 10am to 3pm at Haeata Community Campus, 240 Breezes Rd.