Community Committee recommendations

Christchurch City Council's Community Committee met today (Tuesday 10 June) and the following recommendations were made:

* The committee recommended a decision on the future of Bishopdale Community and Library should be referred to the Council's Annual Plan meetings, due to take place later this month, for consideration. Council staff recommended the facility, which is currently closed, should be repaired to 34 per cent of New Building Standard and a number of improvements made. However, Fendalton/Waimairi Community Board recommended the facility should be rebuilt on a smaller scale. The committee noted the different recommendations put forward by staff and the community board and will recommend the Council consider the funding implications as part of its Annual Plan process. The Council will consider the recommendation on Thursday 12 June.

* The committee has recommended part of the North Beach Community Creche building be sold to the Spencerville Residents' Association for one dollar, the remainder of the building demolished and the site grassed over. The North Beach Community Creche service has permanently relocated to the North New Brighton School. The Council will consider the recommendation at its 26 June meeting.

* The committee also agreed to refer a decision on funding the repair and strengthening of the former St Martins/Opawa Toy Library building, 65 Sandwich Road, to the Council's Annual Plan hearings. Repairing and strengthening the building, which is currently closed, is estimated to cost $365,000. The committee recommended the building should be retained due to its heritage significance.

* The committee recommended in principle that a new community facility should be built in the Spreydon/Heathcote ward on the site of the former St Martins Volunteer Library at 122 Wilsons Road. This recommendation is subject to funding being approved for the new facility in the Council's Annual Plan. The building would incorporate the St Martin's Volunteer Library service, community spaces that could be booked on a casual basis and potentially the St Martins/Opawa Toy Library, depending on the Council's decision around the toy library building in Sandwich Road. The St Martins Volunteer Library building was significantly damaged in the earthquakes.

* The committee recommended a new pavilion facility should be built on the site of the earthquake-damaged Woolston Memorial to Fallen Soldiers building, 502 Ferry Road. It recommended the current building should be demolished and the original timber frontage retained and reinstated in the new facility. The recommendation was made subject to funding being set aside in the Council's Annual Plan. The committee noted the new facility needed to be rebuilt by 30 March 2015, in time for the Anzac Day centenary celebrations.

* The committee approved a heritage incentive grant of up to $73, 563 for conservation and maintenance work for the protected heritage building at 86 Chester Street East.

* The committee recommended the balance of the Historic Places Fund should be retained at $1.5 million. The Fund is available to both listed and non-listed heritage places of significance to the community, heritage places threatened by demolition or community groups (trusts) or private owners who cannot access other funding sources.

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