CCPG Notes taken at the Christchurch City Council meeting 13 June 2013

Date: Thursday, 13 July 2013
Time: 9.30am
Place: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street
Matter under discussion: Adoption of the Christchurch Coastal Pathway Concept Plan and Feasibility study.

1. Deputation by Chris Doudney, Concerned Redcliffs Residents
Chris noted the 85% support for the pathway. His group does not oppose the CCP (Christchurch Coastal Pathway) but supports the Pathway (not full coastal option).
He opposed changes at Beachville Road reserve. He asked there be no obtrusive planting, no children’s bike area, and no bright lights. His members view this stretch as a common. They would like to see this area unchanged and the pathway be brought down to 2 metres wide (vs. the 4m that CCPG has always argued for and achieved in the concept). At Redcliffs park their concerns were in relation to access to boat ramp and proposed possible redevelopment of the saltmarsh. The following facilities should be maintained; football field, access for boaties, playground and beach area. Chris presented an alternative drawing for Redcliffs park.
Councillor Tim Carter explained that the details Chris Doudney raised would be dealt with in the second round of consultation when each section of the pathway would be designed in detail. The present concept is a high level plan.

2. Deputation by Mike Sleigh on behalf of the Christchurch Coastal Pathway.
Mike presented the benefits of the Christchurch Coastal Pathway as a city-wide asset that will be second only to the Botanic Gardens in terms of visitors, 1 million visitors per year.
Cost over 3 – 5 years will be $17 M. In the 3-year budget the following facilities are already allocated for: Metro sports facility $121 M; Aquatic centre $30 M with 640k users; Athletics track $6 M. The Christchurch Coastal Pathway has not yet been budgeted for.
CCPG requested $3 M each year for the next three years of the Three Year Plan. CCPG offered to fundraise for the remaining $8 M.
Michael Sleigh state the CCP will revive the city and will be a place for everyone citywide and beyond and there will be no entry fee. It will also create jobs.

Mike presented the case for integrating into current SCIRT work on the causeway. SCIRT are forging ahead but have not been easy to talk to. The SCIRT work is allowing the physical space but could integrate structural features for this section. These include pockets for planting with rock pools at base of wall, lookout decks and ramps down to the water.
These amenity elements would be difficult to integrate at a later stage due to piles needed for ramps and lookouts. Also planting pockets would need to be dug out.
SCIRT are planning a traditional kerb and channel whereas the CCP plan is to include a planted ‘bio-retention’ swale system for storm-water. The benefits of the planted swale system are that storm-water is treated before entering the estuary whilst also providing some separation between traffic and the Coastal Pathway. The planted swales also provide further environmental and visual amenity, including habitat, biodiversity and beautification.

Questions
Councillor Tim Carter said that the Council need to get cost comparison figures for integration of the work now and costs to do the work later.
Councillor Jimmy Chen asked if we have thought about possible overruns to the $17million total budget. Mike replied that we were aware that costs may increase however no land needs to be purchased as it is Council-owned.
Councillor Barry Corbett asked if CCPG got Council funding whether we would be happy to pass control to the council. Mike replied that this project has had huge community support and involvement and it would be great to see this go forward as a joint venture and that working this way was forward thinking and could achieve a better result.

THE HAGLEY FERRYMEAD COMMUNITY BOARD CHAIR’S REPORT TO COUNCIL
Islay McLeod Presented for the Hagley Ferrymead Board saying the Board fully supported the Christchurch Coastal Pathway and the urgent work needed to integrate with SCIRT repairs.
Questions
Councillor Aaron Keown suggested the public will ask why the job wasn’t completed while road repairs were being done. He asked that costs be gathered for three options. No work, part and full completion.

A Resolution was passed: wording as follows –
It is recommended that the Council:
(a) Receive the report.
(b) Note the level of support for the Coastal Pathway draft Concept Plan, and resolve not to hold hearings on submissions.
(c) Receive the Summary of Consultation Responses report (Attachment 1).
(d) Have regard to the Coastal Pathway consultation feedback as part of the considerations of submissions on the Three Year Plan.
Section e):
Council Staff will report back to council at 3 year-plan deliberation meeting, the estimates cost of including stormwater swales, landscaping, access ramps/steps to the estuary that this work is done as:
a) part of the existing SCIRT causeway project
b) at a later date not in conjunction with the SCIRT project.
Moved by Tim Carter and Seconded by Claudia Reid

Councillor Tim Carter said that we have all agreed that the estuary is not seen as a dumping ground and therefore this work (vegetative swale) should be done regardless of the CCP. He moved that pressure is put on staff to get costs ASAP in order for Council to make a decision.

Councillor Claudia Reid said the since the Earthquake there have been tensions about repairing (just fixing) or replacing and transforming. She said that the overwhelming response to the ‘Share an idea’ was that we would be crazy if we didn’t take the opportunity to make things better.

SCIRT have $2b worth of infrastructure repair work over the next 5 years, to repair, to improve resilience. AS an alliance SCIRT won the Planning institute award last month. They have included $¾ million in betterment currently. We need to agree to what extent that we should include making things better. She said the CCP will be a standout transformation.

Councillor Helen Broughton said she was very supportive of the project that will attract tourists and visitors. She would like it to be funded from $69 M for enhanced cycleway project as it would be more popular with Christchurch public.

Councillor Yani Johanson noted that deputation and consultation is added to council record. He said the CCP is part of a City-to-Sea holistic planning exercise they started 2 years ago. This is the most cost effective opportunity our city may face for the next 100 years. It will contribute to the cultural and social, environmental and recreational outcome of the city.

Published on Sunday, June 16th, 2013, under News