International rowing lake proving increasingly popular

23 July 2014

Proposals for a 2.25km flat water sports lake in the Avon River red zone are proving increasingly popular with over 80% of respondents now agreeing or strongly agreeing with the idea.

The proposal is one among thirty listed on EVO::SPACE the on-line public consultation platform launched recently by Eastern Vision.

Two options for an off-river multi-code sports lake are provided for comment, a shorter 1.25km version and a 2.25km version suitable for international competition rowing.

“While a few prefer the shorter version because it has less impact on the environment, most prefer the longer version on the basis that if you are going to do it you may as well do it to an international standard and attract the big events,” says Rev Peter Beck convenor of Eastern Vision.

A number of proposals are very popular with 90% or more support including the city-to-sea river park, new wetlands for water management, an eastern cycle and walkway network, eastern sport and recreation centre (replacement for QE2), dune boardwalk, eco-sanctuary, legacy hot pool complex for New Brighton, a riverside heritage garden park and a network of community food gardens and orchards.

“A half dozen of the proposals on the website are struggling to get 50 % support. A proposal to link Brighton and Sumner with a bridge over the mouth of the estuary at Shag Rock has very high levels of disagreement mainly on environmental grounds.

“However there is more support for this if it was limited to a cycle and foot bridge only,” says Beck.

“This is exactly the kind of feedback we need from the community so we can get a clear steer on what people think.

“It’s really important we hear from as many as possible on these proposals so that recovery agencies have a good understanding of the views of the community. There is no point in investing in feasibility studies or business cases if the ideas do not have public support.

“I encourage everyone wherever you live and whatever your age to go on-line or come along to one of our events and tell us what you think. We have already received hundreds of registrations on the site but would like to see this extend into the thousands.”

The website address is http://evospace.co.nz.

The schedule of workshops and drop-in sessions is:

11am Wednesday 23 July, Wainoni Church (older persons only)
6:30pm Wednesday 23 July, St Faiths New Brighton Church Hall
2pm Friday 25 July, New Brighton Library
2pm Saturday 26 July, South New Brighton Community Centre
10am Tuesday 29 July, South Brighton Shops
7:30pm Wednesday 30 July, Parklands Baptist Church
2pm Friday 1 August, Parklands Library
2pm Saturday 2 August, North von Baptist Church Lounge
10am Tuesday 5 August, Shirley Library
6:30pm Wednesday 6 August, Burwood Christian Centre
2pm Thursday 7 August, Burwood Shops
6:30pm Friday 8 August, North New Brighton Community Centre
2pm Saturday 9 August, WEA Hall, 59 Gloucester St, CBD
10am Tuesday 12 August, Ferrymead Shopping Centre
6:30pm Thursday 14 August, Rolleston Community Centre
2pm Friday 15 August, Eastgate
2pm Saturday 16 August, Mt Pleasant Yacht Club
10am Tuesday 19 August, Central Library Peterborough
6:30pm Wednesday 20 August, New Life Church Hall, Cashmere
2pm Friday 22 August, Edgeware Shops
2pm Saturday 23 August, Linwood Ave School Hall
10am Monday 25 August, South Christchurch Library
2pm Friday 29 August, Northlands Mall
2pm Saturday 30 August, Kaiapoi Baptist Church Hall
10am Tuesday 2 September, Nga Hau E Wha Marae
6:30pm Wednesday 3 September, St Barnabas Anglican Church Tui Room, Fendalton
2pm Friday 5 September, Riccarton Mall

This programme is funded by the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust: “Tomorrow starts here”.

Eastern Vision exists ‘to assist the communities of the east of Christchurch to become vibrant, prosperous, empowered and sustainable, which together with the development of stunning natural assets and amenities, will comprise an outstanding location for people to live, learn, work, invest, play and visit.’

Our mission is to play a leadership role in realising this vision. Although we claim no mandate for such a leadership role, we will actively facilitate a mandate from communities for the vision by endorsing and upholding the Principles of Community Engagement for the Recovery of Greater Christchurch.

Our objectives are:

1. To facilitate a big picture road map for the recovery of the east that is:
• Community-engaged
• Collaborative and iterative
• Innovative
• Based on quality urban planning
• Spatially integrated
• Mindful of constraints
• Sustainable long-term
• Inspiring of confidence for all sectors
• Endorsed by all recovery agencies.

2. To facilitate collaborative relationships between communities, community organisations, rūnanga, private sectors, consultants and recovery authorities, that support engagement of these stakeholders and integration of activities, in both the delivery of the road map and realisation of the vision.
3. To monitor the recovery of the east with respect to the agreed road map and advocate for compliance where differences are identified.
4. To secure funding and establish a fund-holding mechanism, to deliver the above.
5. To facilitate the establishment of a Charitable Trust, that includes strong community representation, to administer and manage funding for the implementation of the agreed road map.

ENDS

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