ANNUAL REPORT

What the Council achieved in '98-'99

Every year around this time, Christchurch City Council issues a report outlining achievements and issues from the past financial year.

The report outlines a huge range of highlights, a small percentage of which are: : o The first draft community plans, outlining activities in neighbourhoods, were published for all community board areas.

• Completed a $2.6M 20-unit inner City housing complex named Gloucester Courts.
• Entered into a partnership with the YWCA for emergency/temporary accommodation for women.
• Received a $250,000 grant for Turning Point 2000 from The Community Trust and $61,200 from Lottery Grants Board Millennium Funding.
• Library items in circulation continued to increase 5.7 per cent 5.435 million issues. Libraries with significant growth were Central, Sumner, Halswell, Shirley, Bishopdale and Hornby.
• The WestpacTrust Centre, a great indoor stadium/entertainment facility which can seat 8000 people, was opened in September 1998. Centennial Leisure Centre opened in May this year and Pioneer Leisure Centre in June.
• The pavements in Cathedral Square to the north, east and south of the Cathedral were completed at the end of April this year.
• Publication of the hugely successful "Walk Christchurch" guide book (5000 copies sold)
• Establishment of the Active Christchurch walk/cycle programmes (3000 attendance).
• Continued improvement in Christchurch City Scene, the newsletter to residents on Council activities.
• Two new community arts co-ordinators were appointed.
• Council successfully hosted the International Paralympic Committee World Swimming
• Championships and won a number of other key events, including the World Wheelchair Games (October this year), Supergames 2001 and Under-17 FIFA World Soccer.
• The Helping Hand for Heating scheme has helped 2600 Christchurch households get rid of open fires.
• Decisions on the new City Plan were released in two batches, May and June this year.
• The introduction of the yellow electric shuttle bus.
• Development of new cycle facilities.
• Work and investigation on the Government's "Better Transport Better Roads" roading reform proposal. The Council remains concerned that the cost of road use will rise significantly if profit becomes a primary motive for road management.
• A Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Plan was adopted with a goal of zero waste to landfill by the year 2020.
• Upgrades at the Wastewater Treatment Plant to reduce odour and improve efficiency.

Copies of the full report are available from all Council service centres.