Thursday 28 February 2013

Key decisions from today’s Council meeting

Christchurch City Council met today (Thursday 28 February), with the key decisions made outlined below:

Council revises social housing closure threshold
The Council agreed to revise its threshold for closing buildings after receiving the results of a Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE). Under the revised new criteria, social housing residential buildings that have a seismic capacity of 33 per cent or less can continue to be occupied unless they have significant damage or have an identifiable brittle collapse mechanism.

In addition, the Council agreed that buildings that have not suffered damage but have a seismic capacity of 17 per cent or less will not be occupied.

Temporary repair of Centennial Recreation and Sports Centre
The Council voted not to proceed with the investigation of repairs to the Centennial Recreation and Sports Centre. They also voted that the Council meet with the Minister of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery to discuss how the playground planned for Centennial site through the Central Christchurch Recovery Plan could incorporate an aquatic area or pool.

Damage was estimated at $9.5M, with an expectation this could increase once further work was done to establish the full extent of the damage and the remedies needed.

Sumner Surf Lifesaving Club toilets to be demolished
The Council approved the demolition of the toilet block which is joined to the Sumner Surf Lifesaving Club.

Both the surf club and the toilet were significantly damaged in the 22 February 2011 earthquake. It is expected that the toilet block will be demolished at the same time as the main surf club building, although a timeframe for the demolition is still to be confirmed.

Central City Living Zones Review
The Council approved a report prepared by staff for the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery on proposed changes to the Central City Living Zone provisions in the operative Christchurch City District Plan.

The report will be delivered to the Minister tomorrow, with a recommendation from the Council that he undertake further public consultation on the proposed changes. Council also recommended that the Minister instruct them on any changes needed to the City Plan after he reviews the report and carries out the additional consultation.

Proposals to improve the Earthquake-Prone Building System in New Zealand
The Council resolved to make a submission to the Ministry of Earthquake, Business and Innovation’s Building Seismic Performance consultation.

The Council’s submission includes support for owners submitting plans for strengthening or demolition within 12 months of assessment, a national publicly accessible register and building rating system, exemption for some low risk buildings, prioritisation of some critical buildings and greater Central Government support for local authorities and building owners.

Upper Styx set for residential redevelopment
Council approved the Planning Committee’s recommendation to publicly notify Plan Change 71 and 72, from the Upper Styx Future Urban Development Area and Outline Development Plan. These plan changes include the rezoning of rural land for residential purposes, and provides the framework for the progressive urbanization and future development of the Upper Styx area, in an effective and ordered manner.

Greenfield Sites to be developed in Belfast, Hornby and Hornby West
Council has approved to initiate an Outline Development Plan for the Greenfield Business Areas in Belfast, Hornby and Hornby West. Comprising of 98 Hectares in Belfast and 171 Hectares in Hornby and Hornby West, plans will take into consideration the stormwater management requirements and the appropriate usage of open space in these areas.

Victoria Clock Tower to be fully restored
The Environment and Infrastructure Committee’s recommendation that the Victoria Clock Tower be restored to full working order has been carried by Council. This means that all the Clock faces will be repaired and restored to full working order, and none of the clock faces will remain at 12:51pm in remembrance of the February 22 earthquake.

Road widening proposals for the Opawa Road and Port Hills Road
Council will make formal recommendation New Zealand Transport Agency for the road widening requirements for the Opawa Road and Port Hills Road (State Highway 73), from Brougham Street to the Port Hills Road/Tunnel Road (State Highway 74).

– ends –

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Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage