Land divided into three zones
Shortlisted plans for Christchurch’s red zone have finally been revealed, and include a possible gondola and floating houses.
Regenerate Christchurch yesterday revealed the options feature a green spine and three distinct zones:
The Otakaro Loop Reach, between Stanmore Rd and Gayhurst Rd – focused on activities and play, which could include ecotourism activities, a gondola for sightseeing and activities aimed at children.
The Horseshoe Lake Reach, from Dallington to Avondale – focused on food and culture, which could include food venues, sustainable farming and areas for growing, selling, sharing and foraging crops.
The Eastern Reaches, from Burwood to Bexley – focused on exploring nature, the area may include ecotourism, ecological restoration and water sports.
A public ‘‘Red Zone Futures’’ exhibition of the land use options, originally planned for summer, starting at 10am today, comes from years of groundwork, including previous public consultation on 10 possible options, which received more than 1800 public submissions.
The refined shortlist includes ecological restoration, visitor attractions, recreation, flatwater and whitewater sports, productive land use, water quality improvement, flood mitigation, community spaces, economic activity and residential uses.
Regenerate chief executive Ivan Iafeta said the exhibition was ‘‘an exciting opportunity for people to help shape one of the largest geographical areas in Christchurch’’.
The 11-kilometre green spine will run from the city to New Brighton and feature wetlands, walkways and biking trails. The spine, announced as a sure thing in April, will have a wide concrete path on the south side of the river to allow access for everyone, and dirt or gravel paths on the other.
Kerrs Reach to the estuary will be upgraded to improve the busy stretch of water for flatwater sports such as rowing and waka ama. Regenerate previously ruled out a proposed land swap with Rawhiti Domain, large-scale housing in the red zone and an internationalstandard flatwater lake for rowing and other watersports.
Excluding the lake proved controversial, turning into a bitter stoush between the lake’s supporters and Regenerate over exactly why the lake was dropped. More information on the decision will be on the agency’s website from 10am today.
By the end of 2017, Regenerate had spent $2.4 million developing the red zone plans. The slow rate of progress towards a final plan has been the subject of criticism, with city councillor David East saying there was a degree of frustration in the community at what seemed to be ‘‘eternal consultation and talk, and not a lot of action’’.
After the exhibition closes on June 30, Regenerate will consider the feedback and write a draft plan for the red zone, expected to be ready in November.
Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods will then need to approve the plan before work begins.
A travelling version of the exhibit will visit public spaces through Greater Christchurch. An online version will also be live on redzonefutures.com from today, and will include information on how the decisions to date have been made.