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:
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 before it can be finalised.
Learn more about the Global Settlement and how to have your say.