How to Achieve the Key Goals

Garden City Image

Continue to combine the indigenous and exotic vegetation of the river berms as a demonstration of the distinctive Christchurch Garden City image, but with greater emphasis on restoring indigenous biodiversity to the city

Explanation

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of management in the river corridor is the planting and management of indigenous and exotic plants. Yet they can continue to be combined in the uniquely Christchurch Garden City style. This area provides a major public display of the city’s vegetation and Garden City reputation. The existing Waterways and Wetlands Strategy, draft City-wide Planting Strategy, draft Bio-diversity Strategy, and draft Garden City Vision together guide the way.

Along with their dreams of a new life, the European settlers brought with them the desire to create an idealised city landscape using plants and planting designs what would remind them of ‘home’. Their planting of grassed and willow lined river berms tried to reproduce an idealised English landscape. Their achievements were added to by the Christchurch Beautifying Association and other groups, who combined the "English" style of planting with the creative use of the distinctive indigenous plants of Canterbury. This unique style has become a heritage feature of the city, which is guarded through the City Plan’s policy 14.3.2 to "acknowledge and promote the ‘Garden City’ identity of the City by protecting, maintaining and extending planting which complements this image"

However, applying this style uniformly throughout the river corridor would not show enough respect of its natural and cultural history. Planting needs to be adjusted to protect and restore the health and habitat of the waterway (as covered in Goal 1 (Natural Heritage)), to restore Ngāi Tahu relationships with the waterway, and to satisfy the ICOMOS charter’s obligation to base the setting of each heritage feature and place on physical and documentary evidence of the original setting (both covered in Goal 2 (Cultural Heritage)).

Methods

Natural character

Encourage indigenous plants to spread naturally along bank edges and add to them using indigenous riparian plants which do not interfere with water flows. In doing so, take care that the vegetation grows to frame views of the river and does not become a visual barrier between the river and surrounding roads, berms and pathways.

Vegetation of particular significance to Ngāi Tahu

Keep the few remaining examples of pre-European vegetation on the berms. Add to them with new plantings that restore indigenous character and biodiversity in places of cultural significance to Ngāi Tahu and elsewhere.

Vegetation of particular significance to the Christchurch Garden City image

Continue the distinctive Garden City style as the main design theme for the river berms. This style usually has mown lawns and widely spaced deciduous trees, with seasonal flower and leaf colours used to provide accents and focal features and selected use of indigenous plants to add contrasts of form and texture.

When planting exotic trees, use only species named on the implementation plans (Sheets 1 to 11) or listed in the tree replacement list.

Management and replacement of existing trees

Look after the existing trees to ensure public safety and to keep a corridor of large trees through the central city.

Keep the tree collection healthy by removing sick trees and replacing them with similar species as programmed in the Central City Riverbank Tree Replacement Strategy. Update that strategy every five years to make sure the trees continue to be well looked after.

Landscape design

Prepare detailed proposals and obtain public support and Council approval before making significant changes to the existing vegetation pattern.

Include with each proposal an explanation of the purpose of the plan, how it fits within the river corridor, what effect it will have on existing natural and cultural heritage values, and how it will benefit the city.

Use the implementation plans (Sheets 1 to 11) to set priorities for preparing and carrying out the proposals and for co-ordinating them with other proposals, for changes to roads and paths, establishment of commemorative theme areas, and so forth.

Maintenance

Continue to manage the river berm vegetation to a high civic standard. Achieve a groomed appearance by regular litter collection, lawn mowing, weed and pest control, replacement of worn turf, and refreshment of bedding displays.

Wherever possible, find new ways of doing things that will improve the long-term sustainability of the vegetation and of the wider environment.