Media release 17 July 2011 For immediate publication

Christchurch residents want red zone park, cathedral rebuilt

Christchurch people want the residential red zone land to become a park or reserve and ChristChurch Cathedral rebuilt in its original style – and they’re going online to ensure politicians know about it.

A poll running on the Avon River Park facebook page (www.facebook.com/AvonRiverPark) reveals overwhelming support for turning the residential red zone into a park/reserve. Given the three options of “remediate and rebuild”, “reserve/park with an emphasis on nature and leisure” and “don’t know”, more than 95% of respondents say they want the land to become a reserve/park (1075 votes out of 1128 on Friday afternoon).

Fewer than 3% say it should be remediated and rebuilt on, with the remainder opting for “don’t know”.

Comments include:

“All our red zone neighbours say the same - make it a park. Let rowers, kayaks, etc have some facilities but no residential building.”

“After seeing what has occurred with the land around waterways, who in their right mind would even want to purchase this land in the future? I'm dealing with this sort of thing on a daily basis at work and it's heart breaking for the current residents. No more!!”

“Make it part of John Keys national cycle way! As much as I would love to rebuild our home & enjoy the river frontage again - I cant imagine it happening & feeling safe there again in my life time.”

In another poll on the Rise Up Christchurch facebook page (www.facebook.com/riseupchristchurch) 77% of respondents say the ChristChurch Cathedral should be rebuilt on the same spot in the same style, 8.5% say it should be rebuilt as a modern, multi-faith building and 14.6% say it should not be rebuilt (figures correct at Friday afternoon).

Ashley Campbell, who created the Avon River Park page, says people are using facebook and Twitter to make sure they have a say about the future their city.

“I asked the almost 1500 fans of the Avon River Park page for ideas about how a park or reserve on the red zone land could be not just an ecological and leisure asset for the city, but also create a financial return, and was really impressed with some of the answers,” she said.

Those answers included:

Using it as the base for an annual international water festival

Selling carbon credits

Corporate sponsorship of wetland educational areas and

Requiring future developers of current rural land to buy a section of the red zone and donate it for park use.

One fan pointed out 1997 Ministry for the Environment report, valued New Zealand's wetlands at $34,184 per hectare per year. Adjusted to 2011 prices, that means the economic benefits from retaining all 350ha as wetlands would be almost $12m a year.

“By using social media such as facebook and Twitter, Christchurch residents are making sure they have a say in how their city is rebuilt,” said Ms Campbell. “There’s some really intelligent debate and good points being made online, and I really hope the politicians are taking notice.” Ends

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