Thursday 11 April 2013

Key decisions from today’s Council meeting

Christchurch City Council met today (Thursday 11 April), with the key decisions made outlined below:

New vacuum pump station will be constructed on Bexley Reserve
The Council approved the construction of a new more resilient vacuum pump station on Bexley Reserve to replace a badly damaged pump on the opposite side of Pages Road. Twelve residents provided feedback on plans for the pump station. There were requests the landscaping plan include more colourful, flowering plants, natives and food plants or fruit trees and the plan now includes walnut trees, kowhai, renga renga and rhododendrons.

Motorcycle ban for Christchurch Southern Motorway underpass
Motorcycles will be banned from the new Christchurch Southern Motorway’s three underpasses between Halswell Junction Road and Curletts Road. There have been complaints that the use of the underpasses by motorcycles is putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

Repairing Hei Hei Community Centre may become a priority
The Community Recreation and Culture committee will consider adding the Hei Hei Community Centre to its priority list of the top thirty buildings for funding, further investigation and, where possible, repairs at its next meeting in May. The community centre is the only large space available for the Hornby and Hei Hei community to use. It was closed in December 2012 following a detailed engineering evaluation.

Nod given to temporary trust offices in Belfast’s Sheldon Park
The Council has approved the Belfast Network Community Trust’s application to build temporary offices in Sheldon Park, Belfast, between the Belfast Bowling Club car park and the main sports field car park.

Committee approves funds for projects
Following the Council meeting, Christchurch City Council’s Metropolitan Funding Committee met to consider grants sought for community projects.

Projects were recommended by Community Boards for the Committee to consider as part of Phase 1 of the Capital Endowment Fund – Special One-Off Projects Scheme.

Projects that had funding approved:

• Little River Wairewa Community Trust: To build and develop a transitional community building at Birdlings Flat to support the small beach settlement, whose residents have been struggling in the aftermath of the earthquakes: The project is allocated $180,000, from which the Council will purchase a transitional building and rent the building to the Trust for a peppercorn rental with all ongoing maintenance and any incurred costs relating to the building being the responsibility of the Trust.

• Burwood/Pegasus Community Watch, granted $14,000 to purchase a new 4WD vehicle, which would be better able to cope with roading conditions and enable the group to continue community patrols.

• Community Support Unit Crime Prevention Team, the Community Board is to seek clarification on how the $150,000 funding approved will be managed to implement community safety initiatives in New Brighton.

• Dallington Community Cottage Trust received $60,000 to extend the operating period of the Dallington Community Centre.

• North Beach Tennis Club, $20,000 to resurface the tennis courts.

• Project Employment and Environment Enhancement Programme, $100,000 to undertake Burwood/Pegasus Ward-wide beautification.

• Rawhiti Community Sports Incorporated had $35,000 approved for the operation of the Central New Brighton Pool over summer 2014.

• Southshore Residents’ Association was given $8062 to extend the operating period of Southshore Community House.

• Anglican Parish of Fendalton St Barnabas Church, wants to buy a Fendalton Waimairi community van. It was granted $40,000 towards the vehicle, which will assist groups forced to travel for activities due to earthquake damage to local facilities.

• Fendalton/Waimairi Community Board will receive $300,000 to establish a temporary library facility at Bishopdale. The funds are subject to the provision that if the grant for the temporary library is not required following information being received relating to the closed Bishopdale Library, the Board be able to recommend further projects within the ward the funding allocation could be used for.

• Rehua Marae Trust, is to get $50,000 for an upgrade of the kitchen at Rehua Marae, which hosts more than 300 organisations each year.

• Latimer Community Housing Trust, wanted $290,000 to purchase a new building for the Inner City East Low Income Housing Project. As part of the grant, Council staff are to negotiate a security agreement with Latimer Community Housing Trust to ensure the property is maintained for low-income housing unless otherwise authorised by the Council.

• Ministry of Awesome, for the establishment of an annual art event, the O You! Annual Urban Art Festival. The $45,000 it is to receive will help with operational costs and publicity.

• Sumner Surf Lifesaving Club, is to receive $295,000 towards a project to rebuild the partly demolished surf club on the same site. Council staff are to negotiate a security agreement with Sumner Surf Lifesaving Club to ensure the property is maintained for community use unless otherwise authorised by the Council.

• Lyttelton/Mt Herbert Community Board’s Head to Head walkway project was granted $13,750 towards establishment of a walkway and for brochures to promote the project.

• Lyttelton Historical Museum Society, will get $43,200 for a Distributed Exhibition to showcase exhibits in Lyttelton celebrating its heritage.

• Lyttelton Historical Museum Society, $52,000 for a feasibility study on the future rebuilding of the museum.

• Project Lyttelton has been awarded $55,000 to establish a base for the Tin Palace Gallery and Studio/Workshop.

• Summit Road Society, $15,000 to undertake a geotechnical survey of Ohinetahi Reserve.

• Halswell Primary School, for an extension to the school gymnasium, $197,680, with a memorandum of understanding to be written to ensure community access to the facility.

• Hornby Presbyterian Community Trust to get $67,268 to undertake a post-earthquake impact study on social wellbeing in Riccarton/Wigram ward.

• Riccarton Bush Trust, for earthquake strengthening repairs on Riccarton House to bring it up to 67% of the current building code: $11,040.

• Addington Community House, sought $450,000 to purchase and develop a community facility to replace Manuka Cottage. In granting the request, the committee decided that the Council would purchase a building and rent it to Addington Community House Inc for a peppercorn rental.

• Green Space and Belfast Community Network, $180,000 for the design and construction of a skate park at Belfast and to relocate the Belfast Community Network to a transitional facility.

• Neighbourhood Trust, is to receive $130,000 for the purchase and development of the Pay It Forward Community Facility, which would support community initiatives in the Shirley/Mairehau area. Christchurch City Council staff are to negotiate a security agreement with the Trust to ensure the property is maintained for community use unless otherwise authorised by the Council.

ENDS

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