Decisions from the Council meeting

Here's a wrap of the notable decisions made at yesterday's Christchurch City Council meeting.

South High Street upgrades

Plans for upgrading the final section of High Street have received the green light.

Christchurch City Councillors approved Hearings Panel recommendations to upgrade the south end of High Street between Tuam and St Asaph Streets.

Improvements will include upgrading the street to better reflect the beautiful existing buildings in this area, by adding trees, renewing the road surface, and adding high quality pedestrian surfaces. There will also be a northbound separated cycleway to link the Heathcote Expressway Cycleway to the Central City, and a right-turning lane will be added onto St Asaph Street to improve accessibility for vehicles, and allow vehicles easier access to the St Asaph carpark.

The footpaths will also be widened to increase safety for pedestrians, the speed limit lowered to 10km/h, a simplified intersection at Tuam and High streets, a mid-block crossing, accessible parking and improved loading and unloading facilities, motorcycle parking installed, and there will be a link from the central city cycleways with the Heathcote Expressway major cycle route.

Detailed design work will now get underway before construction can begin.

Central City noise

A mix of new regulatory and non-regulatory measures aiming to manage the effects of noise in the Central City have been approved by Councillors. 

A plan change process will get underway to determine whether changes to the District Plan are needed. These changes could include reviewing the precincts identified for entertainment and hospitality, amending noise limits and insulation requirements. 

Low cost, non-regulatory options will go ahead at the same time as the plan change process. This will include boosting the advice and information for people living and doing business in the Central City, to support a vibrant environment while taking care of everyone’s needs.

Sustainability Fund

Twenty-nine community-lead climate projects have received support from the Council’s Sustainability Fund.

Projects will help households facing energy hardship, grow and share more local food, reduce waste and plant native trees. A series of Christchurch Conversations will also be hosted exploring ways Christchurch can become a regenerative city.

The Fund supports the goals and targets of Kia tūroa te ao, Ōtautahi Climate Resilience Strategy 2021, by encouraging community, school, social enterprise or business projects. 

The projects target a variety of environmental issues. See the full list of funded projects here.

The Sustainability Fund will open again in July 2023. For more information about the Fund and to apply, visit the Council’s Sustainability Fund webpage.