Plan to unlock city centre’s potential

An action plan aimed at unlocking the potential of Christchurch’s regenerating city centre has been endorsed by Christchurch City Council.

“We’re at a pivotal stage in the regeneration of our city centre. We have the foundations in place, however, to maintain the momentum we need to get more people into the area,’’ says Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

More events like last year's Streets for the People are planned to draw people into the city centre.

“The Central City Action Plan  we have approved today will ensure we unlock the potential of our new city centre and create a vibrant place in which people want to live and do business, as well as visit.

“It brings together into a cohesive, overarching action plan all the work various public agencies and the private sector are doing to support the central city and it sets clear objectives and priority actions.

“If we deliver this plan I’m confident we will have the thriving world-class city centre that people told us they wanted during the Share an Idea campaign,'' the Mayor says.

Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Dr Megan Woods says the Central City Action Plan will help support regeneration momentum and build on the multi-billion dollar investment by the Crown and the Council in greater Christchurch since the earthquakes.

"Right now is an especially exciting, yet critical time.  In the last 18 months many  new private and public buildings have progressed - such as Te Pae, the convention centre - or have opened, such as Tūranga and Hoyts EntX.  These new buildings have been key to bringing people back into the city.

"But for the regeneration of Christchurch to be successful, the vision and ownership from here needs to come from local institutions and from the people who live here and do what is best for the city. The Central City Action Plan will help to achieve this outcome,'' the Minister says.

The Central City Action Plan was put together with input from business and residents’ groups.

It features multiple initiatives to encourage residential growth, business investment and major events that draw people into the city centre.

Key elements of the plan include:

• Improved signage in the city centre so people can easily find their way around
• Better lighting of landmarks
• Rolling out free wi-fi across the city centre
• Daily street performances and activities during summer and autumn
• More central city events such as a Matariki winter festival
• Removing unnecessary road cones and lessening the impact of the remaining construction sites
• Broadening the Explore campaign encouraging people to visit the central city
• The establishment of a Business Improvement District by the Central City Business Association so they can fund city promotion and help central city businesses thrive
• Providing incentives for residential development through Project 8011