Projects lay foundation for Green Spine development

A series of projects that will kick-start development of the Green Spine through the Otākāro Avon River corridor are being worked on by Christchurch City Council.

The Green Spine is a key feature of the Otākāro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan that the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister approved in August.

It is envisaged the Green Spine will include walking paths, nature trails, cycleways, and community spaces such as picnic spots  and barbeque areas, as well as large areas of ecological restoration and wetlands.

The Council wants to kick-start its development by creating a network of pathways and public landing sites along the river corridor.

It also wants to begin work on restoring ecological areas at a number of priority sites.

It is anticipating that funding for these projects - estimated to cost $40 million - will come from the $300 million Christchurch Regeneration Acceleration Facility set up by the Government in 2018.

The Council is in the process of finalising the investment case for the funding.

Three new cycle and footbridges and potentially two more landings will also be built within the Otākāro Avon river corridor if a $15 million funding proposal submitted by Council staff to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust is successful.

Council Strategy and Transformation General Manager Brendan Anstiss says the Green Spine projects the Council is planning will complement the other infrastructure projects it has committed to in the area, such as the City to Sea cycleway and stormwater and flood plain management.

Together, they will put the combined value of the Council’s investment in the area at nearly $200 million over 10 years.

“The regeneration of the Avon River corridor is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we want to get the ball rolling on it,’’ says Dr Anstiss.

“These projects show we are committed to delivering the Regeneration Plan. They will give the community and investors confidence that the benefits promoted in the Plan will be achieved,’’ Dr Anstiss says.

“Our goal is to bring people into the area and to provide core public facilities along the whole length of the corridor so that we can support a broad range of other land use activities.’’

A report detailing the investment case for the projects will be considered by the newly elected Council on Thursday 31 October.

Read the report.

At that same meeting the Council will also consider a report on the proposed process for getting community input into transitional land use decisions for the Otākāro Avon River Corridor.