Media Release: Sustainable Canterbury

Date: 19 December 2011

Subject: Urgent Burwood-Pegasus ward issues

Friday’s heavy rain has highlighted the need for more work to protect riverside neighbourhoods in East Christchurch.

“Flooding on River Road, Avonside Drive, Dallington Terrace and New Brighton Road has local green zone residents worried that temporary stop-banks now need finishing,” says a Burwood-Pegasus council candidate, Rik Tindall.

“Sandbags are breaking up and exposed gravel needs to be grassed, with residents ready for support of a maintenance program on overgrown riverbanks,”says Tindall.“Taskforce Green work should be made available and I would initiate new employment for amenity enhancement here.”

“The buckled Medway Street footbridge should be removed now, leaving the foundations for its replacement,” Tindall recommends. “Currently it stands as an ugly reminder of earthquake tragedy and a sense of official neglect in Christchurch East.” Walking and cycle routes need reinstatement to connect surviving neighbourhoods and lift spirits, Tindall believes.

With scaled demolition about to clear red zone housing, residual homes in green island pockets will become unpleasant places to live, locals fear. Tindall advocates for remedial measures to coincide with demolitions, to give adjacent residents more reason to stay.

To the north of the ward, the downstream effects of mass demolition are no better anticipated. The proposed Burwood Resource Recovery Park has spurred Parklands neighbours into action. With doubt at the commitment of their residents’ association, a Parklands Recovery Group has formed to respond to urgent consenting issues this summer.

“Asbestos and silt dust risks, with increased heavy traffic through their streets, are the main concerns of Parklands residents,” Tindall reports. “The combined non-notified council consent, under CERA administration for a public-private consortium, has already-traumatised locals on the back foot,” the council candidate says.

“Due process is demanded with appropriate mitigation of hazards, but who will champion the Parklands residents’ interests?” Tindall asks. “From the loss of nearby QE2 swimming facilities, Parklands house values are already under pressure. What steps will be taken to support these communities and the rating base quality?”

“Many feel abandoned to their fate, and that just isn’t good enough,” Tindall concludes. “The Sustainable Canterbury campaign is to determinedly protect community values in the wake of the quakes. Raising executive salaries is altogether the wrong priority displayed by the current council administration - they can do much, much better for Christchurch.”

ENDS

More information: http://ParklandsRecovery.wordpress.com + http://SustainableCanterbury.org

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