The blueprint for rebuilding Christchurch's quake-hit
city centre was unveiled today in Sydney by
Mayor Bob Parker in his first major visit to Australia since the February 2011
earthquake which devastated the city.
Parker was joined at the briefing by Tim Hunter, CEO of
Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism and Tim Dearsley, Hotel Manager of the
Ibis, Christchurch
- the first hotel scheduled to re-open in the CBD since last year's event.
The plan, which was developed in 100 days by the
Christchurch Central Development Unit, includes input from residents,
community groups and various government authorities charged with the task
of developing the vision for the new Christchurch.
Hailed as bold and innovative, the plan seeks to
significantly shrink the size of the CBD making it a more compact,
people-friendly space framed with parks. The banks of the Avon River
will be central to this vision allowing people to make the most of the
city's scenic waterway. Public art telling the history of the
river will be dotted along the banks and will draw people to a Maori
cultural centre which will act as a welcoming point for visitors to
the city. Cathedral Square will remain the "civic heart" of Christchurch but
will be closed to through traffic and greened through the use of more
grass and tree plantings.
Celebrated as major news for the re-growth of the city
is the plan for the construction of a new Convention Centre which will
cater for up to 2000 delegates and will also include two hotels and retail. It
will be located on a prime site in the heart of the city allowing easy
access for delegates.
A new covered stadium with natural turf will replace
the earthquake damaged AMI stadium. It will be able to seat 35,000 people
and is designed to host major concerts and sporting events. It will
be within walking distance of the Convention Centre and the city
hotels. For those more eager to participate in sports rather than watch
them, a metro sports hub will house a competition size swimming pool with
seating for up to 500, leisure pools and eight indoor courts.
New venues also will be built to cater for performing
arts and music once again allowing Christchurch
to showcase the city's talents in this area.
Additional precincts including business, innovation and
health - anchored by the current hospital - will be developed as part of
the overall plan.
An earthquake memorial will also feature in the new city vision to
commemorate those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Responsible for bringing Australian tourists back to
the city, Tim Hunter said "this blueprint accentuates the stunning
garden city attributes of Christchurch and
shapes Christchurch as
a city of the future - a place where people will want to come and
visit once again".
However he also reminded Australians in his
presentation that they should not put off visiting the city. "There
are plenty of things to do and see in Christchurch now. Many of our
activities re-opened in a very short time after the quake last year
and new businesses have sprung up through the resilience of the local
Cantabrians. Project Re: Start - the brightly
coloured shipping container mall provides a great afternoon of shopping
and new bars and restaurants such as Smash
Palace built in an old bus sit
alongside existing attractions such as punting on the Avon
River or the Antarctic Visitors
Centre as wonderful reasons to come back to Christchurch now. And with the
re-opening of the Ibis and several other hotels to follow soon after we
now have more places for our visitors to stay."
Supporting that, Lonely Planet recently said in advance
of their new guidebook launch there: Christchurch is
re-emerging as one of NZ's most exciting cities. If you're heading to the
South Island of New Zealand, definitely spend a few days in the city.
There's still plenty to do, and you'll be supporting the new businesses
inspiring Christchurch's
renaissance.
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| Christchurch |
Hunter also announced that Christchurch
and Canterbury Tourism is about to embark on a new creative campaign
designed to get Australians to sit up and take notice and put Christchurch back on their
travel radar. Appropriately themed "Christchurch Reimagined",
the campaign will showcase the excitement of the developing city through
the eyes of its residents and also visitors. The campaign launches in
September, 2012.
Mayor Parker is excited by the new blueprint which now
paves the way for investors to come back into the city. "We have a
plan and a vision to make Christchurch
strong, vibrant and liveable."
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