Christchurch welcomes blueprint for rebuilding after earthquake

Residents of New Zealand city enthusiastic over long-term plan, but funding and timescale still to be agreed It may take decades before the plan becomes a reality, and nobody is certain who will pay for it. But an ambitious blueprint to rebuild the New Zealand city devastated by an earthquake has been greeted with enthusiasm by residents of Christchurch. Large swaths of New Zealand’s second city are still in ruins, entire suburbs have been declared uninhabitable, and the region has been buffeted by thousands of aftershocks. But unveiling the plan on Thursday, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker offered the vision of a “safe, sustainable, green, hi-tech, low-rise city in a garden”. Dedicating the plan to the 181 people who lost their lives in the February disaster, Parker said: “We’ve had enough distraction to fill our hearts for generations. This piece of work is about all of us grasping our futures, believing in what we can together do.” The plan, which involves 70 projects over the next 20 years, envisages a compact central business district dominated by low-rise buildings. There would be large new areas of public parkland, including a broad green corridor along the banks of the River Avon. The 150-page document also emphasises environmentally sensitive transport, including a new light rail network, pedestrian boardwalks and cycle lanes. Among other initiatives are an indoor sports complex, upgraded hospitals and libraries, and a redeveloped Cathedral Square in the heart of the city. An $8 million memorial to those who died in February’s earthquake is also proposed. The 6.3 magnitude quake was the most severe of a string of shakes in Christchurch and its surrounding Canterbury region in the last year. More than 7,500 aftershocks have been measured since a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit in September last year. The plan was unanimously backed by Christchurch councillors, who sifted through more than 100,000 suggestions submitted by residents and interest groups. It now goes out for consultation before being formally presented to central government in December. Ashley Campbell, who has set up a Facebook page calling for a large park around the Avon river, called the plan “hugely encouraging”. Campbell, a Cantabrian no based in Auckland, said: “It’s obvious that the people who are planning Christchurch are thinking seriously about what can be done. It’s only a start, but it’s a really, really encouraging start.” The response on social networks, forums where residents have often vented frustration with the local and central government responses, was almost universally enthusiastic. “The city plan is making me feel pretty good about deciding to stay in chch,” tweeted one resident. “Heaps to like, exciting times ahead.” Another typified the mood: “The draft is almost surprisingly – unbelievably – good. First time we’ve felt positive here in, oh, about 11 months?” Enthusiasm was not unanimous. Matthew Carpenter, spokesman for the Canterbury Business Recovery Network, which represents 150 employers, said the council was wrong to “lay all cards on the table” in rebuilding the central city. Speaking to Radio New Zealand, he called for investment to be split between the city and a “satellite town”, away from the “earthquake-prone” city. The government welcomed the draft plan, but emphasised that funding was limited. “The draft plan has a pretty big wish list. It’s now up to the people of Christchurch to debate the plan, prioritise its projects and decide how much they are prepared to pay to fund them,” said the Canterbury earthquake recovery minister, Gerry Brownlee, in a statement. He added: “The council advises that the majority of the projects in the draft plan will be funded by insurance proceeds and by ratepayers.” New Zealand Natural disasters and extreme weather Toby Manhire guardian.co.uk

Posted by on August 11, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.