27 Jun 2024

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Christchurch City Council has put additional money in its Long Term Plan towards helping the city adapt and build resilience to climate change.

Two options to invest more were put forward in the Draft LTP 2024–34, both of which were agreed by councillors today following public consultation.

The additions will see $1.8 million in operational funding brought forward for climate adaptation work, to accelerate the Coastal Adaptation Planning Programme and boost community preparedness.

Councillors also agreed to establish a Climate Resilience Fund, setting aside money from 2025/26, to manage future changes to Council assets. This could include moving or raising lifeline roads, protecting water infrastructure, and ensuring community facilities exposed to hazards are more resilient.

A Climate Resilience Fund will be set up to manage future changes to vital Council assets such as lifeline roads and water infrastructure.

“We had a lot of feedback from the community that they want to see strong investment in climate change mitigation. Our low lying coastal and inland parts of Christchurch are going to be increasingly impacted as sea levels rise so it’s important that we start preparing now,” says Mayor Phil Mauger.

The additional investment will mean a 0.25% rates increase in the first year of the fund, increasing by 0.25% for each year of the LTP, resulting in a 2.25% rates increase by 2033/34. By that time the fund could be as high as $127 million.

The Council will also undertake a range of projects to help mitigate climate change over the next 10 years, including:

  • Spending $101 million on public transport infrastructure and bus route reliability.
  • Supporting the ongoing development of cycling infrastructure across the city with $199 million for the Major Cycleway Network.
  • Increasing the amount of tree coverage and canopy across the city through delivery of the $18 million Urban Forest Plan.

More than $1 billion has also been allocated to projects that will improve our waterways, reduce flood risk and support the development of the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.