Hagley Park, Gardens plans
"We all love Hagley Park. We all own Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens. How they’re improved and enhanced is now up for us to look at. I am determined that when we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Botanic Gardens in 2013 the park and gardens are up to world-class standards again. That is our challenge and we want the people of Christchurch to participate, to make it an exciting and engaging process that we are going through. Read it. Comment on it. Talk to your neighbours, and may the debate commence!" – Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore
Everyone will soon have a chance to influence the Council’s future plans for Hagley Park and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
From 21 August to 25 October you will be able to tell the Council what you think about three draft plans for the Park and Gardens. This can be done by filling in an online or paper submission form. A submission can be as simple as just a few comments on a particular issue, such as where the new Botanic Gardens facilities should be located.
The new facilities will be of international standard and include visitor display areas, educational resources, offices, workspaces, a botanical library and herbarium. The Council has budgeted $11.1 million for these facilities.
Public meetings will be held on Monday 28 August, 12.15-1.45pm and Thursday 31 August, 7.30-9pm at the Christchurch Netball Centre in South Hagley Park. The Council's Transport and Greenspace Unit Manager Michael Aitken and Botanical Services Operations Team Manager Jeremy Hawker will explain the draft plans and answer questions.
A brochure has been prepared which shows the possible locations for the new Botanic Gardens facilities. It also outlines the many other possible plans and developments for the Park and Gardens, including tree replacement, building removal and road quietening. Some of these will definitely go ahead and others are just ideas at this stage so public feedback on them is vital.
People who feel strongly about their submission are welcome to speak to a hearing panel if they wish. The panel will include all councillors, which is a reflection of the importance of the Park and Gardens to the city.
The brochure, plans and submission forms can be found online at www.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay and at the Civic Offices, libraries and service centres from 21 August. The plans are called the draft Hagley Park Botanic Gardens Master Plan, the draft Hagley Park Management Plan and the draft Christchurch Botanic Gardens Management Plan.
The plans are expected to be finalised in March 2007.
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