Sumner on the up, but not there yet
Sumner is bouncing back, albeit slowly.
New facilities, including a library and surf club are popping up, but some private redevelopments and planned street improvements are yet to get off the ground.
The February 2011 earthquake hit the suburb hard – several people died and numerous buildings were demolished or abandoned altogether.
Sumner resident and community board member Darrell Latham recalls school rolls dwindled, businesses struggled and access was limited.
But he was excited by the Sumner Village Master Plan’s vision for a ‘‘vibrant village centre set in a beautiful natural setting’’.
‘‘It’s, from my perspective, exciting to see that the reality is slowly coming to fruition.
‘‘There obviously have been some hiccups along the way with respect to council funding . . . but, personally, I think Christchurch residents need to remember that the communities out this way have been particularly hard hit with the earthquake and essentially what we’re doing is replacing core infrastructure.
‘‘It’s just absolutely wonderful to see the likes of the new Sumner library, community centre and museum taking shape,’’ Latham said.
Sumner Pharmacy owner Dane Bell said the suburb had ‘‘definitely progressed’’ since the earthquakes, but believed there was ‘‘a long way to go’’.
‘‘In terms of the progress for Sumner as a suburb, we’re probably a bit more fortunate than some other suburbs that I think probably also need some help,’’ he said.
However, he was disappointed with the city council’s consultation processes.
‘‘For me personally it’s the street plan. However, I do know that there’s a lot of residents who
. . . yes they’re happy to see the library go up, but there was a few issues about that,’’ Bell said.
One of the sticking points of the master plan for local businesses is the possible reduction of parking by 26 spaces.
Heathcote ward councillor Sara Templeton said the community started its own master plan before the council came on board.
Key progressions had been the removal of shipping containers, used to protect motorists from falling rocks, and the library rebuild.
Tougher aspects of the redevelopment were changes to the community’s priorities and streetscape issues. ‘‘Because we have a transitional space with the village green and small skate park, the community had for the first time that type of space and learnt to really love it and enjoy it . . . but the master plan was drawn up before that.’’
The parking issue had been ‘‘incredibly difficult’’, she said.
Council head of urban design, urban regeneration and heritage Carolyn Ingles said the council had introduced a Sumner Master Plan overlay into the Christchurch Replacement District Plan and prepared Sumner Village design guidelines.
It had also offered case management services to private property owners and was building off-street car parks on Nayland St.
It was yet to complete ‘‘a number’’ of transport improvement projects in Sumner though.
‘‘The funding and timing of these projects, along with several open-space projects on the Esplanade, are subject to council decisions on the Draft Annual Plan and future Long Term Plans,’’ Ingles said.
Construction of a streetscape upgrade to Marriner St and Wakefield Ave through the village centre is subject to the council’s decision on the Draft Annual Plan funding, which will be finalised in June.
The Lyttelton-Sumner road corridor is being reinstated, the major Rapanui-Shag Rock cycle route is being planned, and work on the rock bund along sections of Wakefield Ave and Nayland St and work at Shag Rock Reserve is under way.
In addition to city council projects, a development comprising commercial and above-ground residential development had been completed at 10-12 Wakefield Ave.
The Sumner Surf Life Saving Club had re-established its facilities on Main Rd, several commercial properties had been refurbished since the earthquakes, Ingles said.
‘‘There obviously have been some hiccups along the way with respect to council funding ...’’ Community board member Darrell Latham