Thursday 22 November 2012

Interim Draft Ferry Road / Main Road
Master Plan adopted for consultation

Christchurch City Council today approved the Interim Draft Ferry Road / Main Road Master Plan to be released for public comment. The Council-led Plan has been prepared to support commercial centres along Ferry Road in response to the damage caused by the earthquakes.
The Plan will be available from Monday 28 January 2013 in any of the Council’s open service centres and libraries. The final date for written comments is 5pm on Thursday 28 February 2013.

The Council also adopted a recommendation which requests staff to consider options to give affect to the Interim Plan and other suburban centre master plans.

City Planning Unit Manager Brigitte de Ronde says the Council’s decision to approve the Plan for consultation will be welcome news for the community who will see how their ideas and feedback have been have been brought together to form this Plan.

“The Plan has looked into the issues that affect this significant corridor and found out what people want for the future of their area. It is not only a response to the damage caused to the corridor and local commercial centres in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, but also considers ways to build in economic and social resilience in the future,” she says.

The Plan’s vision statement sees Ferry Road as a safe and pleasant road corridor, connecting the city with the sea and linking the commercial centres along its route. Commercial centres are to be safe accessible and vibrant places to visit by walking, cycling, by bus or car. Public spaces along the route will reflect the changing natural and physical environment and reinforce the individual identity of each commercial centre.

Mayor Bob Parker says this is a comprehensive Plan that covers a large and diverse area – along its length are several commercial centres that support local communities. These commercial centres are part of a wider commercial network, yet they have their own identity and focus, and have suffered varying degrees of earthquake related damage.

“The Plan presents a future vision, goals and actions for the recovery of commercial centres along Ferry Road. These incorporate the views and contributions of the community and reinforce the corridor as a vital lifeline for the city and an asset for local communities.

“I am really pleased to see how the Plan reflects and celebrates the area’s rich history in the design of buildings and landscapes. The Plan also explores the recreational potential of the Ōpāwaho//Heathcote River and the Ihutai/Avon-Heathcote Estuary through improved cycle and walkways, heritage trails, landscaping and more places to stop and rest,” he says.
The Interim Draft Ferry Road / Main Road Master Plan is Phase 1 of a master planning project for the area. Phase 1 deals with the part between the city (Fitzgerald Avenue) and Ferrymead Bridge only. Work will begin on Phase 2 (Ferrymead Bridge to Sumner) in the New Year.

A Council-led Corridor Study is also planned for Ferry Road that will help determine transport priorities for the road corridor. While the Corridor Study is being progressed, the Council is seeking community feedback on this Interim Plan. The Corridor Study will inform a later, final Ferry Road / Main Road Master Plan. The Corridor Study is planned to start in January 2013 and will take several months to complete.

To read the Plan as presented to the Council click here.
www.ccc.govt.nz/suburbancentres

ENDS

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