Early start promoted for transformative red zone project

The vision for the former red-zone land along the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor will start to come to life if plans for a new stormwater and flood management scheme get approved next week.

The scheme is the first in a series of projects along the river corridor that will integrate the management of land, water and natural hazards to demonstrate new approaches to living with water.

The scheme involves constructing a new stopbank and a new stormwater treatment basin and wetland in the triangle of land between Pages Road, Anzac Drive and the Ōtākaro Avon River – an area that has been more prone to flooding since the earthquakes.

It is proposed to include paths and other recreational and landscape features in the new stormwater basin and wetland area, in keeping with the riverside park concept outlined in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan.

The work, once completed, would reduce the risk of homes in Aranui/Bexley flooding and improve the quality of the stormwater discharges into the Ōtākaro Avon River. It would also help manage local drainage issues.

Currently, the scheme is timetabled to begin in the 2024-25 financial year. However, Christchurch City Council staff have spent the past few months completing the initial design work for it and are now recommending that work starts this financial year.

Read their report prepared for the Three Waters Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting.

Early estimates suggest construction costs will be about $12 million.The Council has submitted to have the project funded through the Government’s $3 billion shovel-ready fund. If that funding bid does not succeed, staff propose to fund the work through the Land Drainage Recovery Programme and the Capital Regeneration Acceleration Facility.

If the staff recommendation is accepted, the ongoing detailed design work required for the project will be completed this year, with the aim of tendering the work early in 2021.