7 April 2005
Mayoral forum to launch options for growth in Christchurch
The mayors and chairman of Christchurch’s local bodies are stepping up to the podium on Tuesday 19 April to outline key
issues and opportunities facing our city regarding growth in the next 30 to 40 years.
They take up the challenge, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the Christchurch Art Gallery, on behalf of their local bodies to
discuss in an open forum the likely options for tackling growth in the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy.
The strategy is a partnership between the Christchurch City Council, the district councils of Banks Peninsula,
Waimakariri and Selwyn, Environment Canterbury and Transit New Zealand to find more effective long-term plans for
Christchurch growth together.
Chaired by Wellington Regional Councillor and former All Black Chris Laidlaw, the Mayors’ Forum kicks off with a keynote
address by Auckland Regional councillor, Dr Joel Cayford, on growth in Auckland and some of the challenges this region
encountered.
Following this will be talks by mayors, Bob Parker of Banks Peninsula, who is also chairman of the Greater Christchurch
Urban Development Forum, Garry Moore, of Christchurch City, Jim Gerard, of Waimakariri District, Michael McEvedy, of
Selwyn District, and Sir Kerry Burke, chairman of ECan.
Banks Peninsula mayor Bob Parker says, “The forum aims to raise public awareness on options for growth set out in the
Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy discussion booklet released to all Christchurch territorial authorities’
offices, service centres, and Christchurch City libraries.”
“Years from now will we still live in a community where pristine drinking water comes out of the tap, where travel time
to work is still about 20 minutes, and where kids can safely ride bikes or walk to school? These are some of the issues
we must face,” he said.
“The discussions we have now around how we might tackle growth together as the Greater Christchurch City will have major
affects on what our children and grandchildren inherit long after we’ve gone, so it’s important that as many people as
possible take part in public consultation over the next few weeks,” says Christchurch mayor Garry Moore.
The Greater Christchurch Urban Development Roadshow will also be launched at the forum. This roadshow will take
information and a display about the strategy on the road to all Christchurch communities – from Waimakariri to Lincoln
and Christchurch city to Rolleston, to name a few.
The roadshow will target community gathering places over six weeks, such as malls and fairs to give up-to-date
information on how people can have their say:
- through public meetings in their areas or by simply
- filling out the feedback forms at the back of the Options Booklet or
- online through the www.greaterchristchurch.org.nz website.
ENDS