Feedback wanted on long-term plan for growing city

Thursday, 22 June 2023

New housing in the Meadowlands subdivision in Halswell. Decisions being made now will shape greater Christchurch for decades.

With a population heading towards 1 million within 60 years, greater Christchurch is having to consider now where to put its extra people and businesses.

A new planning document out for public feedback says the population could reach 700,000 by 2051 at current growth rates, up from 530,000 now, then go on to reach the million-mark by the early 2080s.

The document, the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan, has been put together by the Greater Christchurch Partnership, made up of local councils and other authorities.

A summary is available online at www.greaterchristchurch.org.nz. The public have until July 23 to have their say.

Housing on the Port Hills of Christchurch.

Released for feedback this week, the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan covers topics such as where new housing should go, how it can be more affordable, the best way to get people around the city, which areas hold important economic assets and business hubs, which heritage and natural areas can be protected, and how to have a low-carbon city.

Areas identified as needing protection from development include coastal areas, floodplains, the airport noise corridor, rockfall zones, and areas of significant to Māori. Green buffers are also recommended around some urban areas.

It is intended to work with a mass rapid transit plan released recently, which identifies the north and the west as areas where housing could intensify around transport corridors.

The spatial plan applies to a wide area taking in parts of Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri as far as Rangiora, Pegasus, Rolleston, West Melton, Lincoln and Lyttelton harbour.

Some green areas could be turned into housing.

Once finalised, the plan will guide planning until 2050, with five-yearly reviews.

Among its stated aims are to put housing where it provides for people’s needs, while protecting natural and heritage sites and providing for a low-carbon future.

The draft plan has already gathered feedback in online surveys and workshops involving groups such as high schoolers.

Of those consulted, 86% agreed with the idea of focusing growth around key shopping and service centres and along public transport routes.

Just over half agreed with the suggested rapid transit routes north (through Papanui) and west (through Riccarton).

About the same number said they would consider higher-density living, but it needed to be planned and provide quality of life.

Respondents also said they keen to use their cars less, and wanted more reliable and frequent public transport.