Media Statement
18 April 2012

Central Christchurch and Canterbury regional development blueprint must go hand in hand

"The Government's new Central Christchurch Development Unit announced this morning must successfully integrate the economic and social functions of the central city with wider Christchurch and the Canterbury region if New Zealand's second largest city is to prosper", says Stephen Selwood, chief executive of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development.

"The rebuild of the Christchurch city centre cannot be understood independent of the wider regional and national context. It is positive therefore to see the new unit established within a national agency (CERA) with a broad spectrum view leading the implementation phase.

"Foremost in the unit's mind will be a redevelopment blueprint, which it has been given 100 days to deliver. The Government requires that this blueprint identifies the location of anchor projects such as public buildings and strategic city blocks, as well as look at what land amalgamation is required to support these projects and other developments. This is key to driving investor confidence for the rebuild of the CBD.

"But of greater significance will be the "bigger picture" within which this blueprint develops: what is the role of the central city within Christchurch, Canterbury and New Zealand and how will public and private investment support this? How will the central city interact with greater Christchurch and its hinterland? What activities are best supported outside the central area and which activities within? What are the key transport and economic infrastructure investments and how will these be delivered? Which services can be provided by the private sector and which will require public support? What is the optimal phasing of projects within the central city and how will these support regional development? These are the wider strategic issues that must be resolved in concert with the central city plan.

"NZCID welcomes the commitment from the Government to broadly adopt the vision of the City Council as outlined in its Central City Plan, which emerged from extensive public consultation. But it is critical this plan is developed in sync with the overall recovery plan for the region. The next critical step is for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority to publish a fully cohesive, consistent and compelling economic and infrastructure redevelopment plan for the wider Canterbury Region in concert with the blueprint for the central city. That will be key to unlocking private sector investor confidence", Selwood says.
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