Mixed views on $300m fund split

The fate of Christchurch’s $300 million Government fund will become clearer today, but some are ‘‘appalled’’ with how it’s likely to be divvied up.

The Christchurch City Council has proposed putting $220m of the fund towards a new multi-use stadium, while giving $40m towards transport improvements and $40m to the Avon River Red Zone’s green spine. The council is meeting today to make a decision.

Greening the Red Zone chair Celia Hogan said the fund was unevenly distributed and topheavy towards the stadium.

‘‘We would have expected a bit more of an even divide, especially since it’s such a large proportion of the people of Christchurch that have been affected by having to move out of their homes [in the Red Zone].’’

She said $40m for the Red Zone was still a lot, but it should have been half the costs of setting up the green spine (estimated at $153m).

Hogan said she would like to see some of the money go towards planting in the green spine.

‘‘That’s the foundation of the whole concept, everything else can happen around that,’’ she said.

Evan Smith, who has been in various east Christchurch earthquake recovery roles since the quakes, said he was ‘‘appalled’’ with how the council had decided to divide the fund.

‘‘There’s been no engagement with communities at all about how that $300m has been spent.

‘‘I think this is going to split the community enormously because there’s been no discussion on it.’’

When asked about whether the $40m for the red zone was enough, Smith said it was hard to know given the ‘‘whole process around the regeneration plan for the red zone is still very much an opaque process’’.

Christchurch Progressive Network convenor John Minto, who ran for mayor last local election, said it was ‘‘a travesty of democracy’’ the council had refused to allow public consultation on how the money would be spent.

The network plans to protest at today’s council meeting.

But some are pleased with the allocation. Sport Canterbury chief executive Julyan Falloon said the significant percentage allocated to the stadium was ‘‘a great outcome’’.

‘‘There needs to be clarity around who is leading the business case, because we don’t want confusion around that which will cause further delays.’’

Falloon said the funding would make the stadium the third major major piece of sporting infrastructure to get some certainty, after confirmation of the metro sports facility and Nga¯ Puna Wai athletics track.