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| April 2003 |
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Canterbury Park The proposed Canterbury Park on the south-west margin of Christchurch city is starting to take shape. At 145ha, the park incorporates Canterbury Agricultural Park, the upper reaches of the Heathcote River and Ngai Puna Wai Reserve (the Place of Many Springs). In the last year workshops have been held to consider the future use and potential of this major new park. “While so far there has been a strong emphasis on the rural theme and interest has been sought from groups which will fit that theme, as well as the community surrounding the area, Canterbury Park will serve as a regional park for all the people in Christchurch,” says Senior Parks and Waterways Planner Chris Freeman. The most prominent event held on the Canterbury Agricultural Park site is the annual Agricultural & Pastoral Show in November. The voluntary A&P Association was formed in 1862, when it staged the first show in Latimer Square. The next year the Association bought Sydenham Park for showgrounds but had outgrown the site by the 1880s and shifted to Addington in 1887. One hundred and ten years later the association had bought the Canterbury Agricultural Park land and the show moved to its new home. Due to financial problems, the showgrounds were sold to the Council in 2001. The A&P Association retains ownership of the livestock, buildings and the land underneath, and for 50 weeks of the year leases to the saleyards company so it can hold weekly livestock sales. The Association also has a 20-year lease on the 4ha surrounding the livestock pavilion. The rest of the grounds, excluding the Nga Puna Wai Reserve, are set aside for the association’s exclusive use for the month of November every year. The show has become an integral part of springtime in Christchurch, attracting a large number of visitors — over 100,000 last year. “It takes a great deal of effort and planning to keep that many people entertained for three days,” says A&P Association spokesman Richard Lemon. Canterbury Agricultural Park manager Dugald Thomas says bookings for the park have been strong over the summer. Events included the Canterbury Arabian Pony Club meet, the Arab Horse Show, the Halswell Pony Club Championships, the recent PGG standardbred sale, the Lions Club four-wheel-drive show on 23 February, and another standardbred sale on April. Also relocating to Canterbury Park the Christchurch Riding for the Disabled group. In the next few months building is due to start on its new indoor, multi-use equestrian facility. The 80m x 40m working area will be hired to various equestrian groups, and horse sales and competitions will be held throughout the year. It will also be used by the A&P Association during the show. By the end of last year the CRDA had succeeded in raising more than two thirds of the estimated cost of the building, and has also been appealing for major sponsorship contracts to bridge the funding gap. The Halswell Pony Club has already moved into Canterbury Park and currently developing its cross-country course. The club expects to host number of competitions over the next few years, including the South Island Pony Club Championships in 2004. The new Christchurch Polo Club grounds are also ready to go, and the club has been looking at installing irrigation as soon as possible. Another group keen to be part of the new park is the Sustainable Farming and Recreation Group which wants to create an organic education and research centre on a 20ha site in the south corner, near St John of God. Meanwhile, the nearby Canterbury Christian College is planning to build new school, freeing up its existing premises an attractive brick complex adjacent to Canterbury Park for possible future use by community groups.
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