ourchristchurch
Christchurch City Council news, events and information Summer 2012/13
Lonely Planet rates
Christchurch among world’s top cities
Christchurch City Council festivals and events:
Christchurch has been named the sixth top city in the world to visit during 2013 and is expecting to welcome more visitors in the coming year.
• The World Buskers’ Festival in January • Ellerslie International Flower Show in March • NZ Cup and Show Week in November • Gap Filler creative projects • Re:Start shopping mall in the Central City
Repairs to facilities progressing
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NZ Cup and Show Week on track
www.ccc.govt.nz
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Ellerslie planning underway
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Lonely Planet accolade Repairs continue NZ Cup and Show Week New library vans Suburban Centres Programme CCDU update Ellerslie flower show Commercial builds Making Christchurch home Council updates Bethere.co.nz Your Council
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Our Christchurch is your Christchurch City Council news, information and events source. It is published quarterly and delivered directly to Christchurch homes. We welcome your feedback, please email or post your comments to: ourchristchurch@ccc.govt.nz Our Christchurch Communications Unit Christchurch City Council PO Box 73014 Christchurch 8154
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Christchurch City Council online: www.ccc.govt.nz facebook.com/ChristchurchCityCouncil @ChristchurchCC
From the Mayor What a fantastic accolade our city has just received – being named among Lonely Planet’s top 10 hottest cities in the world to visit next year. This is a remarkable achievement considering the immense challenges we have been facing to rebuild Christchurch following the earthquakes. This announcement helps us recognise just how far we have come, but also sends a clear signal around the world that this city is rising from the rubble and is a fantastic place to visit. Transitional Christchurch is an inspiring and exciting place to be and this recognition by the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world will influence thousands of intrepid travellers to come and visit us. I have been doing my bit to try and encourage our friends from just across the ditch to start coming back to Christchurch by being part of the recent Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism campaign to put the city back on the radar for visitors from Australia. This is our largest international visitor market and we want tourist numbers to start growing to the same levels they were pre-earthquake. While we are telling other people how great our city is, it is also important that all of us living here take the time to stop and absorb the progress that is being made – even though at times it seems slower than we would like.
Inside this quarterly Council newsletter we update you on where things are at with the many facilities the Council owns, facilities that are well-loved by the community and have been missed since their closures due to earthquake damage. Some repairs on buildings have already been completed or are underway, while investigations on others are continuing. We also showcase some of the great events coming up in the city. New Zealand Cup and Show Week kicks off this Saturday, 10 November, and is a chance for everyone to enjoy all that the city has to offer. The race day action, fashion and entertainment make for a guaranteed great day out with friends and family. Planning too is well underway for the 2013 Ellerslie International Flower Show. Don’t forget Christchurch residents/ratepayers will again be able to buy up to four tickets for $22 to attend the show next March – great news for all those green thumbs out there.
Bob Parker Mayor
City infrastructure rebuild continues With a growing number of work sites, Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) is keeping its finger on the pulse through regular surveys. The most recent research, based on 300-plus phone interviews, shows a good awareness and understanding of the scope of SCIRT’s work, the cost and the timeframe. More than 93% of people were confident that the most critical infrastructure work is being done first and more than 87% were satisfied with SCIRT’s rebuilding progress. Bridging the gaps Christchurch’s two rivers – the Avon/Otakaro and the Heathcote/Opawaho – are intrinsic to the garden city’s layout, affecting the way people have settled and the character of our communities. In relation to bridge repairs and work near our rivers, deciding the priority takes careful planning.
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Key issues taken into account include the bridge’s condition and importance, traffic flow, key lifelines like power cables and other services. Full bridge traffic closures will be avoided unless it is critical to do so. The effects of closing the bridge or reducing its traffic volume mean that detour routes must be able to cope with the displaced traffic. Safety issues for road users, residents and work crews are a high priority. Bridges in the east: hard hit Projects have to be sequenced to ensure traffic loads are shared and people can get to and from their homes as simply and safely as possible.
Anzac Drive Bridge: the repair is at the design stage. With 17,000 vehicle movements per day, it has almost double the traffic of the other eastern bridges. Wainoni Road Bridge: is not as damaged as the other eastern bridges. However, it is still getting a detailed engineering assessment. Gayhurst Road Bridge: will be a full rebuild. Avondale Bridge: investigations are being carried out on the piles.
Bridge Street Bridge, South Brighton: work has begun on the bridge and its approaches. It has to be fully repaired in order to share the traffic when the Pages Road Bridge work starts. Pages Road Bridge: at the early stages of design for a full rebuild. Whether it is rebuilt on its existing site or on a new alignment is still to be finalised.
Summer 2012 / 2013
Christchurch among world’s top cities Lonely Planet has placed Christchurch at number six on its list of ‘Top 10 Cities for 2013’, singling out the city as an exciting, vibrant place to visit and pointing to the great festivals and events the city hosts. Tourism organisations have hailed the recognition as a priceless opportunity to attract more visitors to the city and create huge economic benefits. Christchurch is the only New Zealand city to make it into Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel publication – a collection of the world's best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the upcoming year. The city was singled out by Lonely Planet for the way it was “bouncing back with a new energy and inventiveness’’. Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the Lonely Planet accolade shows just how far the city has come in less than two years. “We are starting to see signs of real progress around the city, as the rebuild ramps up and new businesses appear across the city and
suburbs.“It’s been a challenging time and our residents and businesses are still grappling with insurance issues, repairs and rebuilds, but there is also a lot of good work going on. Obviously the travel gurus at Lonely Planet can see something special is happening in the city. “Lonely Planet has ranked Christchurch the number six city in the world to visit in 2013 – citing the unique opportunity we face to rethink our urban form and pointing out that the city is ‘bouncing back with a new energy and inventiveness’.
Planet accolade is an invaluable promotional tool for us and I look forward to seeing the results in the coming year.”
Lonely Planet says:
“New Zealand’s second largest city is rising from the rubble … with a breath-taking mix of spirit, determination and flair.”
“It highlights the great events and festivals that the Council runs as one of the city’s biggest selling points to tourists, so we’re expecting big crowds this year at The World Buskers’ Festival, Ellerslie International Flower Show and NZ Cup and Show Week. “We have a great opportunity in front of us, and enticing visitors back to our city will help bring a strong economic boost. This Lonely
saturday 10 - saturday 17 november 2012
FOR A WEEK OF AGRICULTURE, CARNIVAL, EXHIBITIONS AND ENTERTAINMENT New Zealand Cup and Show Week is an action-packed festival week where you can show off your fashion style at events, get a taste of rural life, try your luck at the races and enjoy entertainment throughout the city.
The show offers farmyard fun for children, the thrill of the carnival, the latest in trade exhibitions, best in breed livestock, equestrian action, wood chopping, live entertainment and so much more.
This year’s 150th Canterbury A&P Show brings country to the town for three days during the festival week.
For more information about events, to purchase tickets and to find out what is happening during the festival week in Christchurch visit nzcupandshow.co.nz
tickets on sale now! nzcupandshow.co.nz
Summer 2012 / 2013
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Repairs on Council facilities progress Repair and earthquake strengthening work is continuing on Council facilities across the city, allowing some buildings to re-open while more are expected to open over the coming months. Over the past year, the Council has given approval for repairs to go ahead on a number of key community facilities under its Facilities Rebuild Plan project, which provides a framework for decision making around the Council’s 1600 residential and non-residential facilities. This has occurred alongside the Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE) assessments it is carrying out on its buildings. The Council is also continuing investigations on buildings that were among the 30 it prioritised in September for funding, and where possible, repairs. This is a snapshot of the status of facilities where repairs have been approved: Cowles Stadium The newly re-opened Cowles Stadium is once again being used by school and sports groups, following repair and earthquake strengthening work. Work began on the stadium in Pages Road, Aranui, in July and was completed two months later. Mayor Bob Parker officially re-opened the stadium on 12 October. Mayor Parker says Cowles Stadium has been a key facility in the east for more than 50 years, with many school and sports groups coming from across the city to use it.
Mayor Bob Parker shoots some hoops at the newly re-opened Cowles Stadium.
“Since the earthquakes, there has been a serious shortage of venues with indoor courts. It was important to the Council to get Cowles Stadium up and running again to give our young people somewhere to gather and play sport.”
Repairing your commercial building? 6 –10 MARCH 2013
GET THE GARDEN CITY GROWING AGAIN
Contact us early so you can get the go ahead
Many repairs and rebuilding work will require a building consent.
Buy your residents tickets for the Ellerslie International Flower Show during November and receive a free packet of Egmont Sunflower Seeds…
We’re here to help and give advice; talk to us early before you submit your applications.
Just $22 from CCC Service Centres or www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz
Give us a call and we’ll advise you on the best way to get your consent going.
This offer is exclusive to Christchurch Residents and no service fees apply.
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PH 941 8999 ccc.govt.nz/goahead
Summer 2012 / 2013
www.futurechristchurch.co.nz Whale Pool, New Brighton, Christchurch Botanic Gardens Paddling Pool and Abberley Park and Woodham Park Paddling Pools The Whale Pool, which has been a mainstay on the New Brighton foreshore for as long as many Christchurch residents can remember, is among four paddling pools that are currently being repaired in time for summer. The Whale Pool, along with the Botanic Gardens Paddling Pool and Abberley Park Paddling Pool in St Albans and the Woodham Park Paddling Pool in Linwood, will re-open at Show Weekend. The Whale Pool and Botanic Gardens paddling pools are the first in the Council’s 30 priority facilities to be repaired.
Fendalton Library and Service Centre
Edmonds Clock Tower
The library and service centre in Jeffreys Road re-opened in May 2012 after repair and earthquake strengthening work was completed.
A building consent application has been lodged to repair and strengthen the clock tower, corner of Madras Street and Oxford Terrace. A timeframe for when repair work will begin will be determined once this is granted.
The Curator’s House Repairs were completed on the historic Curator’s House in Rolleston Avenue in October and the restaurant re-opened last month. New foundations have been installed and concrete columns inserted into the walls to strengthen the building to 67 percent of the New Building Standard.
While the clock tower is awaiting repairs, the top half of the tower has been successfully lifted onto a bed of sand. The bottom half is protected from the weather. Victoria Clock Tower (Jubilee Clock) The Council approved repairs for the Victoria Clock Tower on the corner of Montreal and Victoria Streets in July this year. Repairs include the strengthening and rebuilding of the buttresses. An application for building consent for the work has now been lodged. A timeframe for when repairs will begin will be determined once this is granted.
Whale pool, New Brighton
Avebury House Repair and earthquake strengthening work is progressing well on this historic Richmond facility and is expected to be completed in March 2013.
The Curator’s House
Victoria Clock Tower (Jubilee Clock)
A date for re-opening the facility, which is used as a community and function centre, is still to be determined.
Linwood Community Arts Centre
Poseidon Café
Work to repair and earthquake strengthen this building is due to finish by February 2013.
South Library and Beckenham Service Centre
A date for when the building will re-open to the public is still to be determined.
Repair work, which includes re-levelling the concrete floor in the building and repairing the deck, has been completed and the restaurant and bar was expected to re-open soon.
Temporary repair and earthquake strengthening work is to be carried out on the closed South Library and Beckenham Service Centre, with the facility expected to re-open early next year.
Repairs have included replacing a back wall that collapsed and the roof and chimneys will be rebuilt. Other minor repairs have also been carried out throughout the building.
• For
the past year, the Council has been carrying out Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE) assessments on its buildings. These assessments are expected to be completed on all Council non-residential facilities next year.
The work will include the installation of steel propping and additional beams and plates to strengthen the Colombo Street building and ensure it is above 34 percent of the New Building Standard and no longer earthquakeprone. The work will begin once building consent is granted.
• DEE
Options for the permanent repair of the library and service centre are also still being considered. Linwood Community Arts Centre
Youth Hostel Association Hostel Repairs on the historic Youth Hostel Association in the Central City are expected to be completed in November, ensuring it can re-open as travellers’ accommodation.
South Library and Beckenham Service Centre
Summer 2012 / 2013
Some facts:
The building, on the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Rolleston Avenue, is being repaired and earthquake strengthened to 67 percent of the New Building Standard (NBS).
assessments ensure the Council can make informed decisions about whether a building should continue to be occupied as it is currently closing all facilities that are under 34 percent of the New Building Standard (NBS). These assessments are also used in discussions with insurers and help the Council to make decisions about the future of a building.
For more information visit
www.ccc.govt.nz/facilitiesrebuild
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Action-packed New Zealand Cup and Show Week planned Canterbury’s favourite festival, New Zealand Cup and Show Week, kicks off next week on Saturday 10 November. New Zealand Cup and Show Week is an actionpacked festival week where you can show off your fashion style at events, get a taste of rural life, try your luck at the races and enjoy entertainment throughout the city. Join your friends and family at these exciting New Zealand Cup and Show Week events: • The festival will launch on Saturday 10
November with Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas Day at Riccarton Park.
• A highlight of the week is the prestigious
Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Day at Addington Raceway on Tuesday 13 November. Race goers can watch the best dressed fashion competition on big screens throughout the course.
• This
year is the 150th Canterbury A&P Show when country comes to town for three days at Canterbury Agricultural Park. Enjoy all the usual fun of the show and relive days gone by with special commemorative events and displays.
• ‘Ladies’ Day’ Couplands’ Bakeries Mile at
Riccarton Park on Wednesday 14 November is a fantastic day out for the ladies.
• If you are looking for a night out at the races,
don’t miss New Zealand’s premier greyhound racing event, the Buy Sell & Exchange NZ Greyhound Cup, at Addington Raceway on Thursday 15 November.
• Lindauer
Race Day at Addington Raceway on Friday 16 November is a fun day for everyone on Canterbury’s Anniversary Day. As well as the usual racing action, there will be the Jordan Luck Band performing from 3pm, children’s entertainment and activities on course.
• The final event of the week is the popular
Christchurch Casino NZ Cup and New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas Day at Riccarton Park on Saturday 17 November. Fashionistas will vie for the best dressed ladies’ and men’s title.
• TV3’s popular show, 7 Days, will be filmed
live at The Foundry at the University of Canterbury on Wednesday 14 November.
Addington’s 2011 best dressed winners: Jasmin Percasky and Richard Green
There is plenty happening in and around Christchurch during festival week. Visit Ballantynes to find the perfect cup day outfit, enjoy a night at Christchurch Casino, an evening at the theatre or savour Canterbury’s cuisine at a stylish suburban restaurant. For more details about what’s on, visit www.bethere.co.nz New Zealand Cup and Show Week runs from Saturday 10 to Saturday 17 November. For more information about events, to purchase tickets and to find out what is happening during the festival week in Christchurch visit
www.nzcupandshow.co.nz
Royal visit to Christchurch during New Zealand Cup and Show Week Grab your camera and a posy of flowers because The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit Christchurch during their royal visit in November. The Prince, who will be representing the Queen of New Zealand on the visit which celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, and his wife will attend the 150th Canterbury A&P Show while in Christchurch.
Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall will attend the 150th Canterbury A&P Show on Friday 16 November.
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Canterbury A&P Association President Richard Lemon is delighted The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be attending this year’s show.
“Prince Charles’ interest in rural life is well known and this visit gives us the opportunity to show him the best of the best of Canterbury’s agricultural sector. I am also looking forward to showing Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, the region’s champion equestrians in action. “They will be attending the show on Friday, Canterbury’s Anniversary Day, so we are expecting a big crowd on that day. Their attendance on Friday will give Cantabrians the chance to come along to the show and welcome the royal couple to Canterbury. It will make a special day all the more exciting and it will be a highlight of the festival week for many,” Mr Lemon says.
Summer 2012 / 2013
Library vans gear up for service Ron Burton, the President Elect of Rotary International, paid a visit to Christchurch last month to admire the progress made on one of Rotary’s projects: the donation of two mobile library vans to Christchurch City Libraries. Mr Burton was joined by Community Services General Manager Michael Aitken to observe the fitting-out of the vans, which will begin operating on Saturday 1 December and provide a portable social, recreational and learning space. This unique service – a first for New Zealand – will help fill the gap left in library services after earthquakes led to the closure of Bishopdale, Central, Linwood, South and Sumner Libraries. Rotary New Zealand sought, and received, funding for this project, with one van funded by Rotary International and the other van funded through a partnership with Rotary International and the Cotton On Foundation.
Summer 2012 / 2013
(Left to right) Community Services General Manager Michael Aitken, Rotary New Zealand’s Lindsay Crossen, Cotton On’s Eliza Raquel and Rotary International President Elect Ron Burton.
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Suburban Centres Programme
The recovery and rebuilding of our suburban commercial centres Implementation – the next steps for a master plan What is a master plan? A master plan is a long-term vision agreed by the community of how a centre may look, feel and function. It sets goals and prioritises future actions. The master plan will guide Council decisions and will enable the community to take the lead on a variety of revitalisation projects. What happens once a master plan is signed-off? Once a master plan is approved, specific projects that the Council is responsible for are carefully scoped to determine funding and timing details. Some projects will be able to be progressed quickly, while others that are more involved may require further research, detailed design and securing of capital funds. There will be further opportunities for people to be involved in the rebuild and recovery of their suburban centres as specific master plan projects begin. This involves consultation which is tailored for each project. For example, the usual Council public consultative channels will be used for proposed work such as street enhancements, while consultation on larger site-specific projects will seek wider input.
Community-driven design for Lyttelton’s new civic square
Master plans – update • Lyttelton and Sydenham Master Plans –
completed, adopted and work has started on preparing project plans for those implementation projects which will be progressed in 2012/13.
• Selwyn Street Shops and Linwood Village
Master Plans – completed, adopted and printed copies are available for the public at all Council service centres and libraries. They are also available online at www.ccc.govt/suburbancentres.
• Ferry Road Interim Draft Master Plan (Stage
1) – the draft master plan will be completed over the next month for consideration by the Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board and the Council prior to public consultation, programmed for public comment from 28 January – 28 February 2013.
• Sumner’s 'Community-led' Master Plan –
the draft master plan will be available for public comment from 8 November – 12 December 2012.
• Edgeware Village and New Brighton
Centre Master Plans – Council staff are drafting these master plans, which are programmed to be approved for consultation early in the New Year.
Update on New Brighton
The Council’s Suburban Centres Programme team has worked with Gap Filler and Greening the Rubble to use vacant spaces in New Brighton, where available, to find creative ways to introduce new activity and people into local centres.
Greening the Rubble has enlivened the former Joyland cinema site, on the corner of Beresford Street and Oram Avenue, with a creative play garden for children.
Case management The Suburban Centres programme’s case management service offers support and advice to commercial property owners as they redevelop their properties. The goal is to… • Facilitate the recovery of Christchurch’s
earthquake-damaged suburban commercial centres;
• Support the social and economic wellbeing of
these local communities;
• Help build confidence back into these areas; • Support temporary activities such as Gap
Filler and Greening the Rubble; and
• Champion coordinated development and good
urban design.
The site of Lyttelton’s new civic square
The Council recently purchased the ‘Lyttelton Petanque Club’ site (44 London Street) for a new civic square and Council staff have started a clean-up and investigations into the site in preparation for working with the community to determine how it might look.
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Case Management is for… Commercial property owners within suburban centres that have suffered earthquake damage. This service includes master plan and nonmaster plan centres. The list of centres is found on the Council’s website:
www.ccc.govt.nz/suburbancentres
Case Management services… A case manager is a single point of contact at the Council who can help: • Guide property owners through the Council’s
resource and building consent processes;
• Provide information on temporary uses for
cleared sites;
• Arrange for free pre-application and urban
design advice;
• Bring neighbouring property owners together
to discuss how to create complementary design proposals; and
• Provide contact details for key agencies
involved in the rebuild.
Summer 2012 / 2013
Christchurch Central Development Unit Update November 2012 update The rebuild of the central city is picking up pace with considerable interest in the Requests for Proposals and Expressions of Interest in relation to the Convention Centre and Otakaro/ Avon River projects. Property owners and developers are also working together to develop Outline Development Plans which will transform retail in the central city. There has been strong international interest in exploring the potential for Christchurch to become an exemplar of modern living. ‘Breathe’ is a competition that challenges design-led consortiums to design a distinctive inner city village. The CCDU is supporting this project through the acquisition of the site identified in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan for a residential demonstration project. For the rest of the year we’ll be working hard to bring to market the four priority anchor projects – Te Papa Otakaro/Avon River Precinct, the North and East Frames, the Convention Centre Precinct and the Metro Sports Facility. Design briefs, procurement options and business cases are all part and parcel of this effort. The investment arm of the CCDU, Invest Christchurch, facilitates private investment by helping investors access information, identify opportunities and overcome regulatory hurdles. So far the Invest Christchurch team has engaged with over 300 potential investors, including funders, developers, property owners, occupiers, service providers and property buyers. Most (around 60%) have been local. There has also been significant interest nationally (around 30%) and from abroad (around 10%), mainly from Australia and China. Clearly our message about the unique opportunity in Christchurch is getting through. Every time we engage with the market our aim is to provide certainty and confidence, to encourage proactive investment, and to find practical and innovative solutions to the challenges investors face. If you have any investment related queries, please contact Invest Christchurch on (03) 352 0636 or at investchristchurch@ccdu.govt.nz
Summer 2012 / 2013
CCDU reaches out to UK CCDU Director Warwick Isaacs and Investment Manager James Hay visited the UK this month to brief insurers on the rebuild and swap notes with global experts on urban regeneration. Their presentation to the New Zealand Earthquake Recovery Symposium was attended by around 150 executives from Lloyd’s insurance market. Warwick and James gave an overview of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, the rapidly declining aftershocks and the strong momentum of the Canterbury economy. “This was a fantastic opportunity to address uncertainty about Christchurch and New Zealand with people who will influence the availability of commercial insurance and pricing conditions,” said Warwick. He noted it was also a valuable chance to bring people up to speed with the rebuild and give them “a comprehensive NZ Inc perspective”. Other meetings involved the organisations that built London’s Olympic Park and its facilities, which have belonged to the people of London since this year’s Olympic Games. “In terms of the scope of the project and the timeframes involved, their experience resonates very
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closely with what we’re aiming to do,” said Warwick. “Despite the difference in scale, the goal is the same: creating an urban space that attracts people and drives economic growth.” Of particular interest is the project’s legacy component, which transformed one of the most economically challenged areas of the UK into a world-class, thriving district. Warwick said that he and his team took a great deal of heart from the visit: “Faced with similar challenges to us, and with tight timeframes, they’ve achieved success on a monumental scale – and that’s something we plan to emulate.” 1
Olympic Village, London
Did you know … The value of building activity in Canterbury has risen by over
33% since March 2011.
Net international migration out of
0.5% since
Christchurch is only the earthquakes.
97%
of Christchurch businesspeople plan to keep living here, and 75% of them believe now is a good time to invest.
4000
public sector More than workers will be located in the new Christchurch CBD.
Canterbury’s economy
4.4%
in the grew year to June 2012 – the strongest annual growth rate for any individual region since 2007. (National Bank regional trends survey, August 2012)
Key contacts Invest Christchurch service Rebuild Central Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC) Recover Canterbury
03 352 0636 03 941 8999 03 379 5575 0800 50 50 96
investchristchurch@ccdu.govt.nz rebuildcentral@ccc.govt.nz cdc@cdc.org.nz info@recovercanterbury.co.nz
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International stars feature at Ellerslie Flowers, fashion and global designers – the 2013 Ellerslie International Flower Show will have a strong international flavour next year. The best of British – top garden designer Andrew Fisher-Tomlin, internationally renowned plantsman Jody Lidgard, and multi award-winning young British brothers Tom and Paul Harfleet – will be exhibiting at Ellerslie from 6–10 March, 2013. Andrew Fisher-Tomlin returns to Ellerslie as the Convenor of Judges. He judged at the first Show in Christchurch five years ago and is excited about returning to New Zealand and judging at what he describes as “one of the best flower shows in the world”. He says he will be interested to see how the Show has evolved during the last five years. “The 2009 Show was outstanding and I’ve heard nothing but praise about how the quality of the exhibits has improved; Ellerslie has truly cemented its position as one of the top flower shows”. Jody Lidgard came to Ellerslie in 2010 as part of the multi award-winning Chelsea Flower Show garden designer Chris Beardshaw’s team. His greatest passion is improving craftsmanship and professionalism in the industry. He will be bringing to Ellerslie 2013 a number of students to compete in the Emerging Design competition – expect the competition to be fierce.
Tom Harfleet, an emerging British-based garden designer and his artist brother Paul have worked together on a range of projects, including the Pansy Project which won Gold and Best Conceptual Garden at Hampton Court in 2010. Working with Fisher-Tomlin, the Harfleet brothers will design Ellerslie’s first conceptual garden in 2013 and a second garden that explores trees – close up! The dynamic design duo of Danny Kamo of Kamomarsh Landscape Architects and 2012 Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Andy Ellis return to next year with an international award-winning garden. The pair won Gold at the Singapore Garden Festival with their first international garden, competing against 15 of the world’s top garden designers. The pair worked with Sir Richard Taylor and the talented Oscarwinning Weta Workshop team to design the garden which has an earthquake-theme based on Maori mythology and is guaranteed to be a show-stopper. The Egmont Seed Co is back in 2013 as the major sponsor for the Ellerslie International Flower Show. General Manager John McCullough and the team are promising an even more spectacular display with avenues of flowers, including new varieties of bedding plants not seen before in New Zealand.
Former All Black Andy Ellis (top left) and Danny Kamo are back with their international award-winning garden.
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$22 tickets to Ellerslie During November, residents/ ratepayers can buy up to four tickets for $22 to attend next year's Show, running from 6–10 March, 2013. The residents/ratepayers ticket offer recognises that the Ellerslie International Flower Show is owned by the people of Christchurch, and at almost half price, these tickets make it affordable for as many residents as possible to attend. Tickets are available throughout November only from the Council’s Civic Building, 53 Hereford Street, and service centres. There is no booking fee. an for the latest news on the And keep e eye on th . fashion shows at Ellerslie 2013 website.. and other exciting exhibition gardens as these are finalised.
www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz
John McCullough, of Egmont Seed Co, is promising spectacular displays of flowers in 2013.
Summer 2012 / 2013
Council helps with building consent process Commercial owners may find themselves in a new situation when it comes to repairing and rebuilding after the earthquakes. The Council is working hard to help our customers understand the building consent process and its link to protecting people and property. In this article C1 espresso owner Sam Crofskey talks about putting safety first and getting on with the job.
Case study: C1 espresso Accepting the building consent process and hiring someone to manage it has been a big help, says C1 espresso owner Sam Crofskey. All going well, the cafe will reopen opposite its old site on the corner of High and Tuam Streets in the next few weeks. “There is a process and there are going to be requirements around safety and you just do it,” Sam says. “If someone asks you to put in a fire door or get a fire safety report done, you do it. We needed to move forward, and some parts of the old building needed to be brought up to what the Building Code now requires, mostly around safety systems. I decided that right now is not the time to be debating the rules.” Sam says hiring a project manager meant he did not need to become an expert about the Building Act. “I get people to deal with stuff that I don’t need to be an expert on. I’m a cafe owner and I want to concentrate on creating something really special that people want to come to.”
Sam says the project manager proved really helpful when it came to communicating with the Council and other businesses in the multitenanted building, allowing him to step back and concentrate on one thing at a time. But one of the hardest things has been how long the project has taken. “It has been hard out and long. We could have created a temporary space that people would come to because they needed somewhere to go. But we’ve picked up that people want to come to C1 because it’s C1. So that’s a much bigger project. “People say that it must have been the Council that has drawn it out but it hasn’t been. It’s just hard work. We’ve been supported by the Council which is quite cool. “When the cafe opens it’s going to be a huge milestone.”
C1 espresso's new site.
The Building Act can be complex – we’re here to help Council Building Operations Manager Ethan Stetson says many building owners will be heading into new territory.“Assessing the structural strength of your building, planning repairs, bringing older buildings up to code, new fit –outs, it’s a lot to think about at a time when you’re potentially stressed anyway. “That’s why we recommend you consider requesting a pre-application meeting early in your project and we like the idea of anyone getting really good professional help. Let’s get your experts and our experts talking. ”
www.ccc.govt.nz/goahead
Positive trend for major commercial builds Council records show a steady upward trend in the value of major commercial building work across the city with Council figures reaching $308.5 million. Major commercial projects are considered to be those where the value of works carried out under a building consent is over $1 million. In the last week of March this year the value of consented works for commercial projects over one million dollars was $9.1 million. Twenty-nine weeks later this had increased by $299.4 million. The figures include a total of 109 building consents for major commercial projects granted across the city, 23 of which are within the Four Avenues.
Summer 2012 / 2013
Million $ $350-
Commercial Consents Granted over $1 million
$300$250$200$150$100$50-
Week 6 (7-13 May)
Week 12 (11-17 Jun)
Week 18 (23-29 Jun)
Week 24 (3-9 Sep)
Week 30 (15-21 Oct)
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Making Christchurch home The Burke family are part of a growing trend of people who have called Christchurch home for many years, but have just become New Zealand citizens. Husband and wife Des and Loraine, and their son Liam, 23, have lived in Christchurch since 1994 and just received their certificates of citizenship from Mayor Bob Parker at a Civic Ceremony last month. “We’ve been meaning to do it for years and finally got around to it,” Mrs Burke says. The family moved to Christchurch from London, England, when Liam was just five and his older brother Tom was seven. Mrs Burke was pregnant with her daughter Kiera when they moved. “Kiera was a New Zealander anyway because she was born here, and our eldest son Tom got his citizenship a couple of years ago. Now that Des, Liam and I have our certificates we are all Kiwis,” Mrs Burke says.
So far this year, 1650 people have been invited to receive citizenship certificates compared to just 518 in 2011.
The number of people becoming New Zealand citizens in the city is on the increase. There are at least two further citizenship ceremonies planned for later this year. Mayor Parker says it is heartening to see the number of people taking the step to become New Zealand citizens.
Des, Loraine and Liam Burke receive their citizenship certificates from Mayor Bob Parker.
“These individuals and families are showing their commitment to the city post-earthquake. Some of our new Kiwis have lived here for many years, while for others it is a much shorter time, but all share the desire to now be recognised as New Zealand citizens.
The Burke family moved to Christchurch for the quality of life and say they have never regretted their decision, despite the challenges the earthquakes have created.
“The earthquakes interrupted the usual number of ceremonies we could hold last year but even with that in mind, figures for this year are also up from 2009 and 2010. In 2010 there were 742 new citizens invited to the ceremonies and in 2009 there were 1069.”
“Our house was badly damaged in the earthquakes, but we have a sense of loyalty to our jobs and our kids are happy here. We thought about going back to England, or maybe even moving to another part of New Zealand, but we don’t want to live anywhere else,” Mrs Burke says.
Welcome to Future Christchurch Future Christchurch – the new website to keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city and what’s planned as part of the rebuild and recovery.
It is the one place you will find out what projects are underway to rebuild the city and make it a better place to live.
The website provides a big picture overview of what is being done to bring new life, more people and businesses back, not just to the Central City, but also our suburbs.
The portal links directly to other websites for viewers to get more detail about various projects. Take a look at www.futurechristchurch.co.nz and keep going back to keep informed about what is happening in our city.
What’s new
Rebuild Central a new Council service to assist property and business owners to redevelop and relocate to the Central City.
Sumner Village Centre-
New urban village project A competition to design and build a new place for living in the Central City.
Infrastructure Rebuild $40 million is being spent to repair roads and underground pipes.
draft master plan.
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Christchurch City Council News St Albans Community Centre well-used
Treetech Guy Fawkes Fireworks Spectacular Monda 5 Nov y
Back in business and back in use - the transitional St Albans Community Centre is being used by a variety of community groups. The transitional St Albans Community Centre is a partnership between Christchurch City Council, Lions New Zealand and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). Lions sourced the building and re-located it on the site of the St Albans Resource Centre, which was badly damaged in the 22 February 2011 earthquake and was demolished towards the end of last year. To enquire about bookings can call the Council on 941 8999.
Targeting yellow light runners
Join Christchurch for the magnificent the Treetech Guy Fawkes Fireworks display off New Brighton Pier at 9pm on Monday 5 November. Firework Professionals bring their creative touch to a spectacular choreographed display, all timed to a music soundtrack simulcast on The Breeze. To help avoid congestion, there will be some road closures: please check www.ccc.govt.nz/communityevents for advice on getting there and finding a park. Rain date Tuesday 6 November.
www.ccc.govt.nz/communityevents
Are your pools safe for summer? With summer approaching, the Council is educating owners about the steps they can take to ensure their pools and pool fencing are up to standard. The main reason for this is to prevent children from drowning. What the Council needs to know: • Is your pool still intact and operational? • Is your pool area barricaded or fenced off? • Does your pool gate close and latch by itself? • Is your pool empty, and will it stay that way?
OP means ST
yellow
if you can safely
Christchurch City Council is reminding drivers that a yellow light means stop if you can safely. The Council’s Road Safety Education team have launched a repeat of last year’s successful intersection campaign targeting yellow light runners and raising awareness that a yellow light means “STOP if you can safely”. Road Safety Coordinator Angela McDonnell says those tempted to speed up through an intersection when the lights turn yellow should consider that 60 percent of crashes occurring on Christchurch roads are caused because drivers fail to give way or stop. “If you are supervising a young driver in your family it’s especially important you consider your role modelling behaviour at intersections. Fifty-six percent of Christchurch crashes at intersections involve young drivers aged 16-24 years, with many of them on their restricted or learner’s license. “So if you see a yellow light – remember to stop if you can safely.”
Summer 2012 / 2013
• Do you have a pool not registered with the Council? • Have you had your pool removed altogether? Contact us on 941 8999 or visit www.ccc.govt.nz/poolfencing for more information. Your effort towards safety compliance will go a long way towards keeping children safe.
BMW NZ Open tees up this month After its successful reception in 2011, the BMW NZ Open returns to Clearwater Golf Club, giving Christchurch its second round of premier golf from Thursday 22 – Sunday 25 November. This flagship tournament for the men’s game in New Zealand is the biggest event on Christchurch’s sporting calendar and golfing fans are invited to watch. You may have noticed something in your October rates mail-out that sweetens the deal – ratepayers will receive 50 percent-off passes to attend the Open and experience the world-class golf of pros like Mark Brown, Michael Hendry and Vaughan McCall from within putting distance. Those who attend will be on course to win the use of a BMW for the summer. For more information visit
www.bmwnzopen.co.nz
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November
Hoon Hay Fiesta Celebrate your community with this fun annual event. Activities include face painting, skate demonstrations, stage performances and a bouncy castle. Hoon Hay Park 23 November
Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park Celebrate the festive season and enjoy one of New Zealand’s most popular, free outdoor musical events. North Hagely Park 24 November
Fight for Christchurch
December
This year, cricketer Mark Greatbatch and actor Blair Strang enter the ring for the first time, netballers Bessie Manu and Charlotte Kight and heavyweights Hawkins take on Leigh’s Construction in the ring, plus more information visit www.fightforchristchurch.co.nz CBS Arena 30 November
Benchmark Homes Festival of Cycling Explore the stunning vineyards of the Waipara country-side on Saturday then experience the thrills of a fast criterium on Sunday. Riders of all ages and abilities can enter. Mountain biking and running options available. For more information visit www.festivalofcycling.co.nz Waipara & Christchurch 1-2 December
65th Anniversary Santa Parade Get in the spirit of Christmas with friends and family. Enjoy spectacular floats, ethnic and community groups, music, Santa and much more at this years Parade! Riccarton Road, Christchurch 2 December
New World Food and Wine Festival The festival returns for the second year to celebrate the wineries of the South Island region and their status as New Zealand’s representative on the prestigious Great Wine Capitals Global Network. There will be wine seminars, cooking exhibitions hosted by industry experts and live entertainment. For more information visit www.winefestival.co.nz North Hagley Park 8 December
YMCA Carols by Candlelight This year is the 65th YMCA Carols by Candlelight event and the 150th anniversary of the Christchurch YMCA. To celebrate these milestones, the event has been extended and has a few surprises. Latimer Square 24 December
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January
Garden City SummerTimes This year’s Garden City SummerTimes festival offers chances for relaxation, socialising with friends and fun in the sun. Kick it all off with the Fresh Up New Year’s Eve Party and enjoy music, picnics, sport and culture during the festival.For more information got to www.summertimes.co.nz Various locations in the city From 31 Dec – 31 March
Elite Road National Championships New Zealand’s best cyclists converge on Christchurch for their chance to win the coveted national championship title. Start planning now to be at the sporting party of the year! For more information visit www.elitenationals.co.nz Centennial Park & Cashmere Hills 11-13 January
Contact Tri Series
Feburary
The Contact Tri Series Christchurch returns to Pegasus. There’s an event for everyone from the sprint distance, the give it a go distance (3:9:3) and the kids race (1:2:1). For more information visit www.triseries.co.nz Pegasus 13 January
NZ Sandcastle Competition A fun event for adult competitors and family groups to enjoy. Food stalls and entertainment available. Details online at www.newzealandsandcastlecompetition.co.nz New Brighton Beach 2 February
International Track Meet A day packed with athletics activity including a coaching seminar, kids’ fundamental movement skills session, free group training run and a supporters luncheon. See many of our Olympians in action against quality competition. Tickets on sale in mid November from $15 per adult. www.internationaltrackmeet.co.nz Christ’s College 2 February, 4pm
ISPS Handa NZ Women’s Open The championship has been staged at the Pegasus Golf and Sports Club for the past three years but in 2013 it will return to Clearwater and attract Europe’s and Australasia’s best golfers. Lydia Ko will once again be the leading hope as she tries to be the first Kiwi to win the event. Clearwater Golf Club (Harewood) 8-10 February
Speight's Coast to Coast The Speight’s Coast to Coast traverses the South Island of New Zealand from Kumara Beach on the Tasman Sea to Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean. Over either two days (individuals or two person teams) or the one-day event (individuals only), competitors cycle, run and kayak from one side of the island to the other. Sumner Beach 9-10 February
ERE EVERYBODY’S HIS SUMMER Summer 2012 / 2013
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yourCouncil yourVoice
Local Council contacts in your part of the city – to contact your local Service Centre call 941 8999. Mayor
Bob Parker
Deputy Mayor
Ngaire Button
Akaroa/Wairewa Community Board Councillor Claudia Reid, Pam Richardson (Chair), Stewart Miller and Bryan Morgan, Leigh Hickey and Lyndon Graham.
Burwood/Pegasus Community Board
Councillor Peter Beck, Councillor Glenn Livingstone, Linda Stewart (Chair), Tim Sintes, Tim Baker, David East and Julie Gorman.
Fendalton/Waimari Community Board
Councillor Jamie Gough, Councillor Sally Buck, Val Carter (Chair), David Halstead, Faimeh Burke, Cheryl Colley and David Cartwright.
Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board
Councillor Tim Carter, Councillor Yani Johanson, Bob Todd (Chair) David Cox, Nathan Ryan, Islay McLeod and Brenda Lowe-Johnson.
Lyttelton/Mt Herbert Community Board
Riccarton/Wigram Community Board
Councillor Helen Broughton, Councillor Jimmy Chen, Mike Mora (Chair), Sam Johnson, Peter Laloli and Judy Kirk.
Shirley/Papanui Community Board
Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button, Councillor Aaron Keown, Chris Mene (Chair), Anna Button, Chris English, Kathy Condon and Pauline Cotter.
Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board
Councillor Claudia Reid, Paula Smith (Chair), Jeremy Agar, Ann Jolliffe, Andrew Turner, and Adrian Te Patu.
Councillor Barry Corbett, Councillor Sue Wells, Phil Clearwater (Chair), Paul McMahon, Karolin Potter and Tim Scandrett.
Central Service Centre 53 Hereford Street, Christchurch PO Box 73010 Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5pm
Recreation and Sport Centres
Contact your Council Contact Us For general enquiries, our Customer Call Centre is available 24 hours a day. Our after hours service operates from 5pm to 8am Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday.
General enquiries Phone Council info line 941 8999 Banks Peninsula residents 0800 800 169 Fax: (03) 941 8786 info@ccc.govt.nz
Visit us (Open to public from 14 November) Civic Offices 53 Hereford Street Christchurch Central Open 8.30am - 5pm weekdays, except public holidays
Council Service Centres Akaroa Service Centre Temporary office at 28 Rue Jolie Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm Little River Service Centre State Highway 75, PO Box 73029 Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm Shirley Service Centre 36 Marshlands Road (The Palms) PO Box 73023 Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm & Saturday 10am - 1pm
Linwood Service Centre Due to open in early November 180 Smith Street PO Box 73025 Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm Lyttelton Service Centre 35 London Street (Temporarily in Library building) PO Box 73027 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm Sockburn Service Centre Temporarily closed 149 Main South Road PO Box 73026 Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Graham Condon Recreation & Sport Centre 3 Sisson Drive, Papanui Phone: (03) 941 6888
Jellie Park Recreation & Sport Centre 295 Ilam Road, Burnside Phone: (03) 941 6888 Pioneer Recreation & Sport Centre 75 Lyttelton Street, Spreydon Phone: (03) 941 6888 QEII Fitness at Parklands Recreation & Sport Centre 75 Queenspark Drive, Parklands Phone: (03) 941 6888
Riccarton Service Centre 199 Clarence Street PO Box 73022 Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Papanui Service Centre Corner Langdons Road & Restell Street PO Box 73024 Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturday 10am - 1pm Beckenham Service Centre 66 Colombo Street PO Box 73021 Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm Fendalton Service Centre 4 Jeffreys Road PO Box 73020 Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Check us out on facebook www.ccc.govt.nz info@ccc.govt.nz facebook.com/ChristchurchCityCouncil @ChristchurchCC Council info line 941 8999 Peninsula Callers 0800 800 169