First riverside landing opens at Dallington

The first of the landings in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor (OARC) has opened to the public.

The Dallington Landing was officially opened on Saturday afternoon with a small ceremony and community picnic for local residents.

Locals celebrate the opening of the new Dallington landing.

Christchurch City Council Head of Parks, Andrew Rutledge, says the completion of projects in the Regeneration Area will draw increasing numbers of visitors to the OARC and encourage people to explore the 602-hectare area.

“Seeing people connect with the land, the river, and with each other is exciting, as the vision and objectives of the Regeneration Plan for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor are brought to life,” Mr Rutledge says.

“Geographically, the Dallington Landing is situated near centre of the corridor, and we envisage it becoming an important feature of the City to Sea Pathway that will run from Barbadoes St to New Brighton.”

The Dallington Landing features two shelters, public toilets, koru-shaped pathway, picnic tables, and access to the Ōtākaro Avon River. The remaining vegetation planting at the landing will be completed during the next growing season in April-May.

The landing is the second project funded by the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust to be completed in 10 days, after the Avondale pedestrian bridge was officially opened on 4 March.

Two further footbridges at Medway St and Snell Pl are expected to be completed and opened to the public by the end of April.