Media Release
4 August 2006 2 pages
UDS partners’ technical staff complete four-day workshop
The four-day Inquiry by Design workshop for the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS) ended today with
about 100 staff and elected members having taken part from the five UDS partners along with several stakeholder and
special interest representatives.
Kobus Mentz who led the four days, with his team of specialists drawn from Australia and New Zealand, said the week had
probably been the most complex set of inquiry by design workshops he had ever run, due to its sheer scale.
With the Greater Christchurch UDS taking in Selwyn, Waimakariri and part of Banks Peninsula, there was a huge area to
cover and viewpoints to include.
The group of 100 first considered various areas such as:
- green network (parks, reserves, open space),
- blue network (water),
- infrastructure,
- movement network (transport),
- economic (employment/business),
- social network (community impact/social services), and
- growth.
The group then developed preliminary integrated options for future expansion and consolidation.
Mr Mentz says the process ensured that all the partners were on the same page with their views and that everyone could
frankly discuss what issues might exist for each authority regarding various scenarios. His team had been impressed at
the good will shown between the local authority staff and elected members in tackling what would be of huge importance
to their communities’ future viability.
Mr Mentz says he is encouraged by participants embracing the opportunity – for possibly the first time - to work in this
comprehensive and collaborative manner. These early investigation would be shared with the public at the end of this
month before the next set of Inquiry by Design Workshops which will seek to gain a greater resolution and a clear
direction forward.
“The final key to the success of the UDS, however, will depend on how well we have interpreted the Community Charter,
have devised realistic measures to implement them, and how strong the leadership is to retain direction and gain real
traction,”
Mr Mentz says.
Communities will have chance to view the Inquiry by Design Workshops’ progress to date at the following community
meetings:
- Selwyn Community Meeting, Monday 28 August, 7pm to 8.30pm, Lincoln Community Centre (opposite Challenge Station)
- Christchurch City Community Meeting, Tuesday 29 August, 7pm to 8.30pm, Council Chambers, Civic Offices, Tuam Street
- Rangiora Community Meeting, Wednesday 30 August, 7pm to 8.30pm, Waimakariri District Council Chambers.
ENDS