Council Receives The Go-Ahead For Changes To Fendalton Road
Christchurch City Council received the go-ahead on Monday from the Environment Court to proceed with its plans to make
significant improvements to Fendalton Road.
The road works, which were first proposed over 40 years ago, involve changing the road between the Railway and Clyde
Road from two lanes to four. The new road will include a landscaped median, cycle lanes, and visitor parking among the
existing trees where possible. The project also includes providing off-street parking to serve the needs of visitors to
St Barnabas Church.
City Councillor Denis O'Rourke says that the project has been a long time in the making.
"Improvements to Fendalton Road were first proposed over 40 years ago. The wait will have been well worth it as the
final design reflects the results of considerable consultation with the local and wider community".
"A real effort has been made to maintain and even improve the best elements of the current road environment by keeping
as many of the existing mature trees as possible, and planting new trees and flowering shrubs. The finished product
should more than meet the expectations of visitors and residents of the city for our 'Garden City Gateway', says
O-Rourke.
The legal process to make the changes to Fendalton Road began last July with the hearing by an independent Commissioner.
The Commissioner approved the Council's application for resource consent in January this year. Two issues were then
appealed to the Environment Court, one of which has been settled by negotiation, and the second is yet to be resolved by
the Environment Court.
The issue yet to be resolved relates to whether or not the Council can provide a left-turn lane on Fendalton Road into
Glandovey Road. The Environment Court has ordered that the Council can proceed with the rest of the work while this
issue is being resolved.
City Council engineers are now putting the finishing touches on the detailed design of the $4M scheme. Construction of
the changes is likely to start in August this year. The work will be undertaken in stages, with the entire job taking up
to 18 months to complete. Local residents will be kept informed prior to work commencing in their area.
Release ends