Thursday 22 May 2014

Key decisions from today’s Council meeting

The Christchurch City Council met today, and made the following key decisions:

Cycle/pedestrian crossing approved
Construction will go ahead on a signal-controlled crossing for pedestrians and cyclists across Deans Avenue between Blenheim Road/Moorhouse Avenue and Mayfair Street. Council agreed that final designs be done and tenders called for the construction of the crossing, part of the Northern Line Cycleway in the Council’s Major Cycleways Routes.

Speed limit changes
Public consultation is to begin to amend speed limits on several streets and roads in the city after councillors adopted recommendations from several community boards. For a full list of roads affected refer to today’s Council agenda on www.ccc.govt.nz.

Extra funding for Waltham Pool repair
The Council has given approval for an additional $708,000 towards the repair of the earthquake-damaged Waltham Lido Pool. The Council agreed to repair the pool on 3 October 2013. However, during detailed design work it was discovered that the extent of upgrades required to make the pool compliant were significantly underestimated in previous estimates. To meet current standards the complex requires extensive upgrades. This includes the full replacement of all equipment, pipe work and associated systems. Council staff have been asked to apply for external funding for some of this cost, and will approach the Spreydon–Heathcote Community Board for a contribution.
Victoria Park Information Centre repairs approved
The Council agreed the repair of the Victoria Park Information Centre should go ahead. Built in 1898 to commemorate the Queen’s 1897 Diamond Jubilee, the building has been closed to the public since 2011 due to earthquake damage. Repair costs will be covered by insurance, and the building will re-open as an information centre once repaired.
Ferry Road Master Plan
The Council adopted the final Ferry Road Master Plan after changes were made to reflect the outcome from workshops with Foodstuffs over its supermarket development at Woolston. The Master Plan sets out a community-agreed vision, goals and actions for the recovery of commercial centres along Ferry Road from Fitzgerald Avenue toFerrymead Bridge.

Social housing
The Council endorsed staff to prepare a report on the prioritisation of the social housing asset and repair programme.

Exemplar housing
The Council revoked a resolution made on 24 April, 2014, that its Brougham Village site, in Sydenham, be determined the preferred second candidate for Exemplar housing status under the Land Use Recovery Plan, alongside its site at Andrews Crescent, in Spreydon. The Council then endorsed projects at Andrews Crescent and its site at Carey Street, in Somerfield, as strong candidates for Exemplar status and good examples of medium-density developments in the existing urban area. The Council requested that staff prepare a report on future options for Brougham Village, and noted that the Council-led Exemplar schemes are still subject to the outcome of the Council’s consultative process regarding social housing.

Council supports work on Sumner Road
The Council agreed to repairs getting underway to see the earthquake-damaged Sumner Road re-opened between Lyttelton and the Summit Road in late 2016. Geotechnical hazards will be addressed to reduce the risk of rockfall to road users and operations down the slope, before the road and retaining walls are repaired. Depending on funding being agreed with other agencies, the next stage of the process is the public engagement phase.

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