Belfast people’s ideas needed for suburban Area Plan

The future of Belfast is being investigated by the City Council, which wants to hear people’s opinions about this fast-growing Christchurch suburb.

The Council is holding two public meetings next week – on 10 and 12 March from 7pm at the Belfast Primary School – to talk about the process of creating an Area Plan for Belfast and listen to people’s ideas.

The meetings are the start of a string of information exchanges between the Council and community groups, landowners, iwi and other interested groups and individuals.

City Council planner Matt Bonis says area plans are put together to help guide development so that it fits with community opinion, protects the environment and recognises an area’s special characteristics.

“Some of the questions we think need discussing are what do you want to see in your community, what do you think are the most important issues facing Belfast and what would you change about the suburb if you could?

“Belfast’s development has been mixed,” Mr Bonis says. “Some areas have been well thought out, while others have been developed as an opportunity has arisen.

“With the rate of growth, the things the community recognises as important – things like parks, wetlands, special places or great buildings – and the important ecological areas like Styx River and Wilson’s Swamp, it makes sense to prepare a plan for how the area should develop over the next 30 years.”

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