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May 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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The proposed budget for parks in the Christchurch City Council Draft Plan 1999 is $15,455,540 in operating costs. That equates to around $1.56 for each ratepayer per week to maintain our 670 parks for the year.
The capital budget of $9,180,151 is generally used for purchasing new land and for development and replacement of playgrounds, playing fields, trees and landscaping, paths, walkways and various recreation facilities.
Operating costs are used to maintain existing and new parks.
A number of issues associated with the growth of Christchurch have had an impact on planning for the city's parks in the coming financial year. They are incorporated in the draft plan and include:

• There are 23 new parks or extensions of existing parks across the city which need to be developed with trees, plants, playgrounds and paths so that they can be properly used and enjoyed by local people.
• Development of the Sister Cities Garden Park at Halswell Quarry Park.
• Building an information centre and employing a park ranger at Travis Wetland.
• Development of parkland on the Port Hills to conserve the environment as a future recreational resource for Christchurch.

Keeping our City mobile is one of Christchurch City Council's most important roles.

The proposed budget for roads in the Christchurch City Council Draft Plan 1999 is $28,624,753 in capital costs and $31,821,484 in operating costs. With financial assistance from central government - derived from petrol tax - to assist in the Council's management of the roads, that equates to around $166 for each ratepayer per year, or $3.20 per week.
To maintain and improve the current service provided to the community and motorists using Christchurch roads, the draft plan includes the following proposals:

• 19 kilometres of kerb and channel renewal.
• $1.3 million on road safety projects.
• Increasing the rate at which overhead services such as power and telecommunications wires are put underground from two kilometres to five kilometres per year - the cost of this increase is around $1.15 million.
• Seven major roading projects.
• Continuing activities to make Christchurch streets safer and more appealing to cyclists and pedestrians.
• $0.74 million on cycleway projects

Christchurch people are justifiably proud of their fresh water supply. In quality it matches the best in the country. In price ratepayers pay around one third of the cost of water users in other major centres. The proposed budget for water supply in the Christchurch City Council Draft Plan 1999 is $6,869,014 in capital costs and $10,024,125 in operating costs. With some direct charges levied on major users of Christchurch water, that equates to around $1.01 for each residential ratepayer per week for five or six tonnes of water delivered weekly to the average household.

• Reducing the level of leakage occurring in the water reticulation system to 15 per cent by identifying and repairing leaks.
• Improving the security of the water supply system by carrying out public education to minimise the risk of back-flow, or the siphoning of tainted water back into the the supply system from household or industrial water users.
• Reducing the risk of further groundwater contamination in the Woolston area, which is caused by heavy demand in this area, by pumping water from other parts of the City.
• Ensuring the Council, as the largest user of water in Canterbury, provides an appropriate response to the Canterbury Regional Council's long term water use strategy which is scheduled to be prepared this year.

Alternatively you may wish to read the Christchurch City Council Draft Plan 1999 in more detail. Copies are available at your nearest library, Council service centre, the Civic Offices in Tuam St, or by calling 941 6456.

Your response is needed by Friday 18 June to be considered in the Council's decision process.