Ideas encouraged for Waimakariri red zones

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority chief executive Roger Sutton is encouraging people to have their say on the future use of the red zones in the Waimakariri District before the initial public engagement period closes later this week.

“The Canvas public engagement campaign that has been running since July 30 has been a real success so far,” Mr Sutton says.

“We have received over 1400 ideas for what the red zones in the Waimakariri District might become in the future. The most popular ideas at the moment include cycleways and tracks, parks and various community facilities.”

Approximately one square kilometre of land has been zoned red in the Waimakariri District in Kaiapoi, Kairaki and Pines Beach.

“I have no doubt it will become a fantastic resource for the people living in the district. I strongly encourage anyone who wants to have their say to visit the Canvas website and submit their ideas, or post them in before the public engagement period closes tomorrow,” Mr Sutton says.

After the initial public engagement, CERA will collate and analyse the submissions in collaboration with its strategic partners, Waimakariri District Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council, and report back to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery later in the year.

Waimakariri District mayor David Ayers says the level of response to the Canvas public engagement to date is encouraging.

“This augurs well for a very positive future use of the land that was red zoned. I’m confident that all the community ideas from this process will give us an asset which will be great for the whole Waimakariri District.”

Further public engagement is expected once the potential concepts for the future use of the red zones are developed.

For more information on the Canvas campaign and to submit ideas, visit www.canvasredzone.org.nz.

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