Council unanimously decided to approve the recommendation from the joint Council and Canterbury District Health Board hearing panel that the transfer of a piece of Health Board land for a piece of Hagley Park owned by the Council should proceed in order to enable the redevelopment of Christchurch Hospital.
The future of the historic Nurses Chapel in the grounds of Christchurch Hospital was also assured at the Council meeting today.
As part of the hospital redevelopment the CDHB will transfer ownership of the Nurses Memorial Chapel to the Council.
‘This is a good example of how by working together the Council and CDHB can achieve positive outcomes through this redevelopment process’ said Alan Bywater, Council’s Programme Manager Strong Communities.
The idea of the transfer of ownership was considered several years ago after the then Canterbury Area Health Board’s plans to demolish the chapel were met with opposition.
“The hospital redevelopment presented the opportunity to look at it again” said Mr Bywater
Currently the the Nurses Memorial Chapel Trust leases the chapel with its day-today administration being carried out by the chapel’s Friends group. Both organisations want to continue in these roles. The land surrounding the chapel is maintained by staff from the Botanic Gardens.
Mr Bywater says “A decision to vest the ownership to the Council is a win/win situation. The preservation of a heritage building, like the Chapel, is much more closely related to the Council’s business than it is to that of the CDHB”.
