Council's performance set out in annual review

LEFT: A full house at Jade Stadium for the Canterbury Crusaders-Otago Highlanders game on 1 April. (The Crusaders won 42-36.)

You will soon be able to check the Council's performance by obtaining a free copy of the Christchurch City Council Annual Report.

It will be available by early January from Civic Offices and Service Centres. The report outlines the performance and achievements of the past financial year as well as the important issues that the Council believes are facing you, its citizens and ratepayers.

Here are some highlights from the last year:

• Revitalisation of the Central City is viewed as an important issue so the Mayoral Forum has been supported in the development of a 25-y year strategy, to be implemented by a number of concept plans and projects. The strategy will focus on business activity, residential development, cultural foci, heritage initiatives, streetscape, river precinct and amenity improvements, transport linkages and other measures to ensure life and activity characterise Central Christchurch.



• The Council played a key role in the hosting of several major international sporting events. The FIFA under 17 World Soccer Cup, plus the World Wheelchair Games were held at QE II Park. The World Netball Championships were held at the WestpacTrust Centre and earned the distinction of being the world's largest women's sporting event with 28 teams taking part. It gets better. More are on the way as the Council has been successful in bidding for a number of major sporting events for the future, including the Corporate Games 2000, FINA Masters Swimming 2002, World Billiards 2001, Men's and Women's World Bowls 2008. The economic benefits to Christchurch and New Zealand will be considerable.



• Actions taken by the Council contributed significantly to saving of the Warner's, Lyttelton Times and Star buildings from demolition. The Council has agreed to contribute $150,000 pa for five years to assist in the retention and redevelopment of Warner's Hotel.



• Safety campaigns supported by the Council contributed to road accident levels continuing to decline in the City. Safety campaigns supported during the year included urban speed, red light running and developing safe routes to schools.



• During the year the Council signed a management agreement with the Colombo Street Baptist Church for the church to manage a new Council-built 11-unit rental housing complex in Beckenham. This action cemented a unique 75% Council/25% Church financial partnership to develop housing for those in the community who would benefit from a supported accommodation arrangement.



• The two-storey Pier Terminus building that opened in July 1999 sits prominently on its New Brighton waterfront site. It gives the impression of a boat moored at the pier. The building has a café/restaurant at its northern end and a state-of-the-art library. These include a number of unique features, such as a "Pipeline providing youth with interactive entertainment including simulation games and videos. There is also a Media Centre that gives individuals and groups a chance to use computers and experience new technology.



• Christchurch City Libraries not only continued to increase the number of items in circulation, it has introduced new and enhanced services. These include a new "front end" for accessing the library's databases. The Web Catalogue was in place in all libraries by April 2000. They also include the introduction of open Internet access for customers, on a fee basis using cash cards, into all libraries. Another significant service introduced was Business Advantage, a fee based research service for business customers. This provides better and more efficient access to information through a combination of the skills of a library information professional coupled with the wide range of databases available through the library.



• Very good progress has been made towards the opening of the new Christchurch Art Gallery in March 2003. The project's fundraising targets are close to being met, tenders for the new Art Gallery building have been called and the artwork conservation programme has continued with 169 artworks being conserved.



• The City's sporting and events infrastructure has been developed or enhanced during the last year. Planning and redevelopment work is progressing on three major venues, QE II Park, English Park and Jade Stadium. This work will enhance these venues as sites for future international, national and local sports and entertainment events.



• The Council, through the Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC), worked with 3000 businesses to provide various types of support to assist them to develop and grow. The CDC also continued to work with over 2000 unemployed youth during the year with each one receiving individual attention aimed at enhancing their employment prospects. The majority of these young people were placed into full or part time employment or further education and training.



• The "Helping Hand for Heating" scheme has helped a further 2600 Christchurch households close up open fires, a major source of air pollution in the city. Hundreds of participants have also insulated their homes. The Annual Report will be available by early January from Civic Offices and Service Centres at no charge.