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June 1999 C H R
I S T C H U R C H C I T Y C O U N C I L · Y O U R P E O P L E · Y O
U R C I T Y
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CONSULTATION —TALKING AND LISTENING
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WATCH WHERE YOU PLANT YOUR TREES
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MOVING AHEAD — A NEW BUS INTERCHANGE PLANNED FOR THE CITY CENTRE PAGE 3
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CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE
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EXPLOSIVE ACTION AT NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST ARTS FESTIVAL
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Working together
I believe that we cannot go too far when it comes to consultation. Consultation means talking and listening before taking action.
From
your
mayor
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This is what the Council is trying to do with every single major issue that affects it and ratepayers and it is one of the main reasons I do so much public speaking. It is not just so I can speak to the public — it is also so I can listen to the public.
We need to be prepared to negotiate publicly toward solutions to problems, so that when action takes place the public has had a fair say. Sometimes it means it takes longer to arrive at decisions.
As a City we have to overcome the old reserve about speaking out on issues and become prepared to take an active part in deciding what direction the City should take.
I believe Christchurch is mature and strong enough to take another national lead in how things are done. We probably have the liveliest annual rates debate of any major New Zealand city and we get one of the highest percentages of submissions on our Annual Plan. We put a large amount of funding into our grassroots units of ongoing consultation, community boards.
One of the biggest challenges is to make sure we hear an accurate reflection of what is really on people’s minds. We need to hear your voice.
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PLAN FOR GREEN CORRIDOR
From page one story
The picture left shows a concept plan for the green corridor linking the Avon River with Travis Wetland Park. It shows the waterway and the green space that border expressway and provide an attractive out look for nearby homes
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MORE PAPER PLEASE
Over the winter months don’t forget to protect the newspaper you put out for kerbside recycling.
During winter there is a significant drop in volumes of paper recovered for recycling.
This is due to firstly more householders burning paper but also from the newspaper getting wet when put out for collection.
Once the newspaper is wet, it is unacceptable for recycling markets and cannot be economically dried again, so it ends up being thrown out.
At this stage, Christchurch needs as much newspaper as it can get through the kerbside recycling, so please help to protect the paper you put out by:
- Placing your newspaper in supermarket bags and tying the handles of the bag together.
- Laying the plastic bundle flat on top of your crate, rather than upright in the crate.
- Not putting your bin out for collection the night before if it is raining.
- Or if it is very wet, maybe put your paper out the following week.
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Historic building for lease
Registrations of interest for the commercial use of the restored Bellamy’s wing of the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, on Durham Street, are being called for.
Built in 1865, Bellamy’s was originally the refreshment rooms for provincial council members. The name comes from the social and dining facilities at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster.
Since Christchurch City Council took over the administration of the buildings in 1993 the three-level wing has been restored.
Registrations of interest in the commercial use of Bellamy’s should be made by Saturday, 3 July, to Robert Anderson or Wilson Penman at CB Richard Ellis (ph 374 9889).
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This poster is part of a campaign by the Council's Waste Management utility mapping staff to encourage people to check where water and sewage mains are before planting trees. Damage to mains by tree roots can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and most call outs are because of root damage. Before planting got to your local service centre and ask to see the drainage plans. It cost $10 but you can tale a copy at no extra cost. |
Works operations to stand alone
The Council’s Works Operations business unit, which carries out construction and maintenance work on Christchurch streets, parks, waterways and other Council-provided services, is to become a stand alone company.
A working party of senior Councilors and business advisors has recommended to Council that Works Operations be set up as a local authority trading enterprise (LATE), meaning it would operate at arm’s length from the Council.
Councilors agreed last month to the working party recommendation to progress the issue.
Christchurch City Council director of business projects Ian Hay, who was a member of the working party, says the decision will enable the new company to focus clearly on providing the best possible service to the City, while competing for outside work to ensure a viable and sustainable business.
"The Council needs to ensure there are companies which can undertake the physical works the Council buys for the community at competitive prices."
An independent review of road construction and maintenance costs shows prices in Christchurch are considerably lower than in other main centres.
"We believe that the strong Council presence, currently through a business unit and soon a stand alone company, has and will continue to ensure a competitive market remains in Christchurch. This enables the Council to receive the best value for money for physical works services," he says.
The new company would be governed by a statement of corporate intent and would pay an annual dividend back to its owner, the Council.
Works Operations is currently contracted to carry out around $30 million worth of work annually for the Council. The new company will also include the plant ownership and maintenance activities of the Council’s Plant and Building Services.
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Big response to proposed amalgamation
Christchurch City Council received more than 3700 responses to the Christchurch City Scene questions on Banks Peninsula amalgamation — the largest number of responses ever received by the Council for any such question form. The information from these forms was reported to the Council along with information from 12 public meetings and a survey of 410 residents commissioned through a market research company.
Thanks to these public consultations, the Council has been able to submit to the Local Government Commission a clearer view of what Christchurch people think about amalgamation. The commission will now decide whether the issue will go to a poll of electors.
While supporting amalgamation in principle, the Council acknowledged that the decision would be decided by the majority of voters in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
The research concluded that across Christchurch, 41% of residents were neutral about the proposed amalgamation, 33% in favour and 25% against. In addition, 80% thought that Christchurch residents made use of Banks Peninsula facilities, 75% thought Christchurch and Banks Peninsula shared a common history and 74% thought Christchurch and Banks Peninsula were part of the same area.
By the due date 3716 Christchurch City Scene forms had been returned. The largest proportion of respondents, 59.3% (2205), was against amalgamation; 33.9% (1260) was in favour, and 6.8% (251) neutral. These forms showed residents motivated to respond were against amalgamation.
One hundred and ten people attended the workshops. Overall, they favoured amalgamation.
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