29 July 2019
Ownership of several central city anchor projects and the residential red zone will transfer from the Crown to
Christchurch City Council under a proposed Global Settlement drafted by senior officials.
For the past few months, senior Council and Crown officials have been negotiating a Global Settlement to resolve all the
outstanding issues from the 2013 Cost Sharing Agreement the two parties signed.
Those negotiations have now reached a point where officials are ready to bring a draft agreement to the elected Council
to consider.
Dr Brendan Anstiss, one of the Council officials involved in the negotiations, says the Global Settlement is designed to
provide certainty around long-term ownership of assets and who will take responsibility for the regeneration work that
still needs to be done in Christchurch.
“After the earthquakes the Crown stepped into help with Christchurch’s recovery. Both the Crown and Council agree it is
now time to normalise the Crown’s involvement and for the Council to resume full responsibility for managing the city,’’
Dr Anstiss says, “The draft Global Settlement looks at how that will happen and clearly sets out the roles and
responsibilities of both the Crown and the Council.”
Under the draft Global Settlement:
• A number of central city public realm assets will be transferred to the Council by the Crown. These include the
Bus Interchange, the Metro Sports Facility, the Avon River Precinct, the Margaret Mahy Family Playground, roading
assets, and land for the Performing Arts Precinct.
• The Crown and Council will fund improvement works in Cathedral Square, with the Council leading works.
• The Council will deliver the Performing Arts Precinct, including the Court Theatre and a carpark.
• The Council will have the opportunity to purchase Crown-owned central city land not needed for anchor projects.
• Ownership of Te Pae, the Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre, will remain with the Crown.
• Ownership, delivery and operation of the Canterbury Multi-use Arena will be determined through the investment
case that is currently being developed.
• Residential red zone land in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, the Port Hills, Brooklands and Southshore will be
transferred from the Crown to the Council progressively over the next two years.
• Regenerate Christchurch will be asked to prepare and implement a transition plan for its future.
The Council will continue to finalise investment cases for the $300 million Christchurch Regeneration Acceleration
Facility funding proposals. It is intended that $220 million from the fund will go towards the multi-use arena, $40
million will go towards seed funding for the Ōtākaro Avon River corridor regeneration, and $40 million will go towards
transport and roading improvements, including projects that increase safety and people using public transport.
Dr Anstiss says there will be an opportunity for the public to give their feedback on the draft Global Settlement ahead of it being considered by the Council on Thursday 8 August.
“People can make a deputation to the Council at a special public session that will be held in the Council Chambers on
Tuesday 6 August from 9:30am. After hearing the public’s feedback, the Council will meet again later in the week to
consider whether the draft Global Settlement should be endorsed in principle.’’
The draft Global Settlement also needs to go to Cabinet for approval before it can be finalised.
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