13 Sep 2018

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Two programmes of work aimed at ensuring Christchurch’s city centre is vibrant and prosperous have been endorsed by the Council today.

The first programme of work involves developing an Action Plan that will put in place initiatives to encourage more people back into the central city.

More people means more activity and more spending, which will build confidence in Christchurch’s city centre. This will, in turn, stimulate new investment, attract more residents and deliver on the city’s post-earthquake potential.

The Action Plan aims to encourage growth over the next three years until the remaining major facilities and attractions are built.

It is being jointly developed by the Council and its regeneration partners, and will involve central city community, business and property owners and residents’ groups.

The second programme, called Project 8011, is focused on boosting the number of people living in the central city from the current 6000 to 20,000 people by 2028.

Project 8011, which takes its name from one of the central city’s postcodes and from the approximate number of homes needed for 20,000 people, aims to remove the barriers that are stopping residential development in the city centre. It will also consider the incentives that can be put in place to make residential development a more attractive option for developers.

Push to cut plastic use

The Council has committed to working with others to make Christchurch plastic straw-free by the end of 2019.

It has also written a submission to the Ministry for the Environment voicing its support for the proposed mandatory phasing out of single-use plastic shopping bags.

In its submission, the Council says it believes the community is ready and willing to make the needed changes to avoid single use plastics.

“Eliminating single use plastic bags will challenge people to think differently about their purchasing decisions and daily habits. Just like kerbside recycling has influenced people's behaviours and values in Christchurch, daily use of reusable bags will encourage people to consider wider environmental issues and impacts of consumption,” the Council's submission says.

An additional resolution notes that the Council will work with the Disabled Persons Assembly on the straw issue.

Steps to amend high flood hazard management policy

The Council today has agreed to ask staff to provide advice as to options for resolving the issue with the High Flood Hazard Management Area policy in the Christchurch District Plan.

Councillors have requested that urgency be given to the matter so that the District Plan can be amended to reflect the intention of the Independent Hearings Panel as soon as possible.

Council staff had already been working on how to provide clarity on this issue. They will report back to the Council in the new few weeks.

Grant for outreach worker

The Council has agreed to give a one-off grant of $40,200 to the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective so it can employ an outreach co-ordinator.

The outreach co-ordinator will be employed for 12 months for 30 hours a week to support street-based sex workers and liaise with residents and businesses to ensure that their quality of life and and business activity are not affected by sex work.

The money for the grant will come from the Council's Capital Endowment Fund.