Thursday 26 June 2014

Key decisions from today’s Council meeting

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

Council to sell North Beach Community Creche building
The Council agreed the North Beach Community Creche building should 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.

New sports pavilion to be rebuilt on Woolston Memorial to Fallen Soldiers site
The Council approved the rebuild of a new sports pavilion facility on the site of the earthquake-damaged Woolston Memorial to Fallen Soldiers building, 502 Ferry Road. The current building will be demolished and the original timber frontage retained and reinstated in the new facility. The new facility will be rebuilt by 30 March 2015, in time for the Anzac Day centenary celebrations.

Port Hills decision delayed
Councillors have asked for more information before deciding on a staff recommendation to not go ahead with area wide mitigation for rockfall in the Port Hills. More information will be provided ahead of the 17 July Council meeting.

Social housing to be assessed
The Council requested that staff ask the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) to assess the Council’s “old and cold” social housing units that would benefit from EECA’s free insulation programme. The Council also agreed that both EECA and Community Energy Action should be approached about working together to fast-track the process.

Riccarton bus Super Stop
Work on the Riccarton bus Super Stop got the go ahead from the Council which has asked staff to draft concept plans for new passenger shelters and a mid-block pedestrian crossing, consult the community, and seek the necessary building and resource consents. Concept plans for a mini passenger lounge in the Riccarton Shopping Centre car park will be subject to reaching final agreement with Westfield New Zealand over a lease for the land. Detailed designs will go before the Council within three months.

Historic Places Fund
After reviewing the policy for purchases of heritage properties through the Historic Places Fund the Council decided to retain the Fund. However it has agreed to reduce the Fund’s balance from $2.5 million to $750,000 in light of the Council’s current financial situation.

Heritage Conservation Policy review
The Council agreed that it needed to develop a Heritage Strategy urgently, and has asked for staff to develop such a strategy and report it to the Council by the end of 2014. The new strategy would replace the Heritage Conservation Policy, which has largely been superseded by the Heritage Incentive Grant policy guidelines.

Helmore’s Lane Bridge to be repaired
Councillors agreed to repair Helmore’s Lane Bridge as part of the Infrastructure Rebuild Programme. The repair means that the bridge will be repaired to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians only. The council considered an option to repair the bridge to a standard that would allow vehicle traffic, but staff advice indicated that a decision had been made in 1895 to legally stop through traffic onto Harper Avenue from Helmore’s Lane.

Consultation on Manchester Street
The Council has agreed to consult the public on Manchester Street as part of the ‘An Accessible City’ Transport Projects. TheManchester Street transport project is led by Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU). Councillors agreed for the specific information that would form part of the consultation to be tabled with the Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board in July.

Council to consult the public on five bylaw changes
The Council agreed to open public consultation on five bylaws that it proposes to change as a result of the regular review of bylaws. The bylaws being amended are:
• Urban Fire Safety Bylaw 2007
• Cruising Bylaw 2010
• Parks and Reserves Bylaw 2008
• Water related Services Bylaw 2008
• Traffic and Parking Bylaw 2008
The public will be able to submit to the proposed changes from 14 July to 15 August and the hearings panel will hear submissions then report back to the Council on the final forms of the bylaws in 10 and 12 September.

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