Thousands of jobs, billions of dollars of growth - the new blueprint to revitalise Christchurch

Tuesday, 11 September 2018

Christchurch has seen a lot of retail, office and civic development 'but the missing ingredient is people,' mayor Lianne Dalziel has previously said.

Ambitious new plans for Christchurch that could lead to 15,000 new jobs and increase economic growth to $24 billion have been unveiled.

The blueprint outlines proposals for everything from property development to ways to boost housing and bring in major events in a bid to drive a fresh wave of regeneration.

Experts have warned that Christchurch faces a period of economic vulnerability as construction projects begin to tail off following a peak.

Growth has more than halved over the last four years, from a high of 5.5 per cent in 2014 to two per cent in the year to June, while unemployment is also rising.

* Costs, lack of apartment culture holding back Christchurch's inner city push

* Faster repopulation needed in central Christchurch for business survival

* Grief keeping some Christchurch residents out of quake-damaged central city

* Christchurch's next problem: bringing residents back into the CBD**

Authorities are developing a new plan to rejuvenate the central city and ensure progress continues.

To ensure progress continues Christchurch City Council has outlined a strategy to hasten public and private regeneration in the central city over the next three years.

The plan, being considered by councillors on Thursday, draws on analysis by rebuild planning body Regenerate Christchurch and economic development and promotions organisation ChristchurchNZ.

Built on five key pillars, it aims to deliver major facilities and venues quickly, stimulate investment and unlock sites for development, redefine leadership roles among city authorities and 'relentlessly pursue residents and visitors', marketing Christchurch both nationally and internationally.

How these goals are achieved is still being hammered out, but advice from Regenerate Christchurch and ChristchurchNZ that the plan leans on outlines key ambitions:

Bringing 6000 new residents to the central city within the next five years to support a self-sustaining economy - previously outlined in the council's Project 8011 plan - with a longer-term goal of 24,000 more people
Increasing the Canterbury population by 16 per cent to 707,000 over the next decade

The rejuvenation stategy aims to bring more residents and visitors to the central city.

Grow Christchurch's gross domestic product by 24 per cent to $24 billion
Create 15,000 new jobs within the central city in the next five years
Support 500 businesses and 200 entrepreneurs for each of the next three years
Set up a major events strategy and bring global business events to the city
Establish a fast-track residential consenting process, with lower costs to reflect the priority of inner-city development
Encourage pop-up accommodation, retail sites and semi-permanent installations to make the most of vacant central city land
More investment in neighbourhood services and amenities, with potential amendments to school zones

In a report to the Crown and the council outlining the problems faced by the city and the potential solutions, Regenerate Christchurch admits there is 'no silver bullet' in its recommendations.

'Ultimately it will be a result of the interaction between the public sector, private sector, communities and households - all of whom will make decisions, over time, in respect of their willingness to contribute to, participate in and benefit from regeneration.'

Writing to Regeneration Minister Megan Woods and Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Regenerate Christchurch chairwoman Sue Sheldon said the advice was a ''call to action' which challenges the status quo'.

'There is a necessary and legitimate case for a sharper focus on the central city to ensure we maximise the opportunities created by this progress,' she said.

'The opportunity presented by the investment in the city is yet to be fully realised and a new point of vulnerability is emerging.'

A final version of the strategy will be presented to council in November.

Dalziel said the plan was about 'creating a reason to come to town and spend time there'.

'We all know that the key to a thriving central city is people. We need people living, working, visiting and doing business in the central city.'

Despite the decline in economic growth and slight rise in unemployment which has seen Christchurch above the national average for the first time in six years, ChristchurchNZ believes the 'economic fundamentals of the city and regional economies remain strong'.

Its quarterly economic report argues that 'while the central city has some short-term challenges, its rapid redevelopment over the past year significantly enhances Christchurch's offering as a city open for business and people'.

ChristchurchNZ senior economist Dr Peter Fieger said: 'Christchurch clearly has the capacity and platform for growth. Acting on this is the key to the city's future success.'

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