Media Statement 16 April 2012

Christchurch City Council Consultation Process a
Mockery

The Christchurch Civic Trust claims the proposed Christchurch City Council public consultation process for the conversion of Hagley Oval, a public open space, for commercial gain will be a mockery.

According to Mr Lee Germon, Chief Executive, Canterbury Cricket Association, Canterbury Cricket’s plans to construct a grass embankment encompassing the ground and a players’ pavilion would need to go through a consultation process before being rubberstamped.(1)

Mr John Filsell, Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sports Unit manager, has confirmed publicly, that those plans, which also include floodlights for staging 2015 World Cup games, need public consultation at a date yet to be determined(2)

The Christchurch Civic Trust has grave concerns, that commercial alienation of public open space by Canterbury Cricket would result in:
• exclusive long-term occupation of Hagley Oval.
• denial of public rights, including free access.
• the creation of a very dangerous precedent for the future of Hagley Park.

Commercial cricket interests have long been preparing a permanent return to Hagley Oval and its development to International Cricket Council standards. Because of legal constraints, still relevant today, which did not support enclosure of the Hagley Oval public open space and the charging of spectator gate fees, a “suitable ground to which an admission charge could be attached” was developed at Lancaster Park by 1881, subsequently hosting commercial regional, national and international cricket matches.(3)

There is also real concern that behind -the-scenes activity has kept the public from being informed about details for this new role for Hagley Oval. There appears to be expectation that consents are a mere formality to turn this site into a commercial venture, contrary to the original intent for this reserve. Moving ahead with creating a new wicket block for ICC before gaining the consents for supporting infrastructure and ground modifications is indicative of the way the CCC continues to flout the normal procedures and allows favoured entities to side-step proper scrutiny. The citizens of Christchurch deserve better treatment than this from their elected representatives, and all proposals to alienate parts of Hagley Park should be subjected to the blowtorch of robust public consultation.

Sources
1 http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/6632862/Hagley-Oval-ready-for-a-major-
makeover

2 http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/6516682/Christchurchs-Hagley- Oval
plans urgent

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/player/ondemand/filsellsports-21March2012
3 http://www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?
a=d&d=TS18810729.2.13&e=-------10--1----0--

Backgrounder:
Christchurch Civic Trust:
Emerged as an action group of residents dedicated to the preservation of significant heritage landmarks and the encouragement of quality design and development of their future environment. The Civic Trust continues to promote the protection and enhancement of our historic environment as well as positive redevelopment, quality of current urban design (including infrastructure), building and green space planning, because what we build today will be our heritage tomorrow.
Christchurch Civic Trust www.christchurchcivictrust.co.nz

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