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17. 12. 97
CITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
2 DECEMBER 1997
A meeting of the City Services Committee
was held on Tuesday 2 December 1997 at 2.00 pm
| PRESENT: | Councillor Denis O'Rourke (Chairman), Councillors David Close, Carole Evans, Ian Howell and Ron Wright. |
| APOLOGIES: |
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from the Mayor and Councillors David Buist, Graham Condon and Garry Moore. |
| ABSENT: | Councillor Carole Anderton. |
| Councillor Howell left at 5.10 pm and was not present for clauses 5 to 9 and 13 to 18. |
The Committee reports that:
PART A - MATTERS REQUIRING A COUNCIL DECISION
1. RAILWAY CYCLE PROJECT RR 6682
| Officer responsible | Author |
| City Streets Manager | Alix Newman, Transport Projects Officer |
| Corporate Plan Output: Cycleway Planning/Implementation; p9.5.37 & 38 | |
The purpose of this report is to inform the Council of the status of the Railway Cycleway project, and seek the Council's recommendation to proceed with the development of the project.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Railway Cycleway proposal is for a sealed pathway, 2 to 2.5m wide, running on the western side of the main north rail corridor, from St James Park in Papanui, to Matai Street in Riccarton. The proposed pathway would be approximately 2.9km long, and cross five roads. The concept is considered in five stages.
| Stage I: | South of St James Park to the intersection with Blighs Road. Connects to the Bellvue Avenue underpass. Landscaped plantings around Dudley Creek. Length 300m. Estimated costs $77 000 |
| Stage II | Blighs Road to Wairakei Road. The southern half of this leg runs adjacent to an open drain which will be reshaped. Length 820m. Estimated costs $257 000. |
| Stage III: | Wairakei Road to Glandovey Road. Length 380m. Estimated costs $110 000. |
| Stage IV: | Glandovey Road to Fendalton Road, crossing Wroxton Terrace. The narrowest section of the path is a 100m length at Wroxton Terrace. Length 680m. Estimated costs $230 000. |
| Stage V: | Fendalton Road to Matai Street. This section of the cycleway offers typical open cross section of 10m. Open section requiring two stream crossings, one bridges already in place. Length 620m. Estimated cost $200 000. |
The potential usage of the proposed path has been evaluated in previous reports and considered adequate to support path development. There is an informal path in the location of the proposed pathway which is well used by all types of cyclists and pedestrians.
ESTIMATED COSTS
The estimated total costs for the project are $880 000, but this may need to be revised pending design alterations as a result of the consultation process.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
The need for an extended consultation process was raised at the start of 1997, after the original project research and leaflet drop in late 1995 received only 40 responses. The extended public consultation process consisted of:
A newspaper article in the Press on 21 July 1997.
Two displays of information consisting of aerial photos, write-up, photo mock-ups. The displays were installed at the Fendalton and Papanui service centres, Riccarton and Northlands malls, Canterbury University and seven schools in the area.
Information leaflets and questionnaires. These were available with the display and hand delivered to households adjacent to the proposed cycleway.
Meetings with four groups of residents.
[The consultation process was conducted by a Consultancy team consisting of Tony Francis and Carole Donaldson - both experienced in consultation and conflict resolution. Much of the following is extracted from their report.]
QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES
The questionnaire contained a number of questions relating to respondent details, and opinions on path features. A full report on the consultation process is separately available.
To the question "Do you support the proposed cycle/pedestrian path?", there were 800 responses. 88% (707) responses supported it. In a more detailed breakdown 644 people outside the immediate path area supported it (91% of non-locals), and 63 local residents supported it, that is, 66% of local residents who responded to the questionnaire, supported the path. A more detailed breakdown is appended to this report.
To the other questions:
88% of all respondents said they would use the path
43% of all respondents said they would use the path at night (55%
would not)
85% said the path should be lit.
Of the general comments received:
Most reinforced their support for the path (72 replies)
The need for good lighting reinforced (25 replies)
Some reinforced their opposition (16 replies)
Good fencing needed (16 replies)
Safety concerns were expressed (12 replies)
The potential usage of the path was reaffirmed by the responses.
MEETINGS WITH PEOPLE OPPOSED TO THE PATH
To obtain more information on why some respondents opposed the cycleway/path, a series of four meetings, or focus groups, were held with four to eight residents
The first meeting was held at the home of a resident After this meeting, three further meetings were arranged at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm on another day, to minimise costs and to provide a variety of meeting times for participants.
The attendees for the meetings were selected from the list of newspaper respondents who opposed the cycleway/path. Only residents living close to the proposed route were selected.
There was great similarity among the issues expressed at all four meetings. It was obvious that all the participants had grave concerns over the proposal, and many anecdotal stories were provided describing current undesirable conditions and activities associated with the railway corridor. The concerns can be summarised under four headings:
Safety
All four groups were highly vocal with respect to the safety aspects of a cycleway. Many of these were already an issue for the residents and it was believed that the cycleway would exacerbate rather than solve these. There were three categories noted.
User safety was of immediate concern. The fences were considered to create a corridor from which there was no escape from 'undesirable' encounters. This was of particular concern to women, children and the elderly (whether as walkers or cyclists). It is of note that the residents believed this was already a problem on the route for users. Several participants brought up the recent attacks on users of the existing Papanui cycleway.
Further concerns over user safety were the suction effect of trains passing; the attraction to small boys in climbing over the fence to the railway; and the attraction of the paved section to skateboarders and motorbikes.
Personal safety with respect to those living in close proximity was noted. Several participants related stories of strangers knocking on doors, jumping fences and asking for various things (from cups of tea to blankets). The elderly and women home alone felt particularly vulnerable.
Crossing safety was a further major concern. The participants believed that the proposed crossing designs were dangerous and did not allow for potentially large numbers of users (particularly school children) wanting to cross at the same time. A further component of this was the fact that the concept designs virtually blocked existing driveways making access and safety of access an issue.
Vandals and Rowdy Behaviour
All four groups mentioned examples of vandalism and rowdy behaviour that currently occur, and believed the cycleway would encourage an increase in this. Examples of these concerns are:
Stone throwing using the ballast from the railway line;
Graffiti and litter which are already an issue and providing more fences and easier access would encourage this further.
Partying along the railway line which is an ongoing problem with youths gathering to 'tank up' before attending events in the city. Making access easier is seen as encouraging this use.
Indescribable behaviour (probably of a sexual nature) was also noted to occur at present and the cycleway was not seen as a possible deterrent to this.
Amenity Values and Aesthetics
Several participants were concerned over the potential effects of the cycleway on amenity values and aesthetic appeal. No participant felt the cycleway as illustrated thus far would increase the amenity value or the aesthetic appeal of the area. The values under threat were considered to be:
Peace and quiet experienced by those on particularly on back
sections.
Privacy from the street, to be undermined if a cycleway was
developed.
Care and maintenance of the cycleway and fences, or lack thereof,
was a concern.
Ugliness of the corridor and the fences.
Property Values
In concert with the above, participants felt they would experience a decline in property values as a result of the cycleway.
Other
Several participants felt that the lights on a cycleway would be intrusive. Most felt that 'passive surveillance' of the cycleway would not work to minimise the concerns that they had.
Many participants expressed the view that if the behaviour of cyclists improved, their safety and comfort on roads would increase accordingly.
Some of the residents in the four groups found the concept of a mown grass area along the railway acceptable. They would even accept a gravel cycleway.
Others were implacably opposed to the cycleway/path.
RESPONSE TO RESIDENTS CONCERNS
As a result of the questionnaire feedback and focus group meetings, the following could be built into the path design:
User Safety: In reality, the question of the "corridor effect" - i.e. trapped in a long corridor is a possible concern. Experience with the northern railway cycleway has not supported this concern. There will be on-going efforts to arrange more frequent crossing and exit points along all path stretches. The fence adjacent to the rail line is low specifically to reduce this effect.
Personal Safety: Several residents have responded that they wish the path to proceed so that greater numbers of passing people will add to the security of their properties and themselves.
Crossing Safety: All crossing points are being redesigned to improve crossing safety. Arterial crossings are being designed with the options of traffic signals and non-signalised crossings.
Stone throwing, graffiti and litter, partying, and indescribable behaviour are obviously concerns at the moment. It would be expected that a sealed pathway, with lighting and landscaping (where room exists) would reduce the opportunity for this behaviour. Some residents along the line believe increased use will reduce these problems. Experience with the northern pathway does not show the path as a major behaviour problem area.
Peace and quiet and privacy: There may be an impact on peace and quiet and privacy. However, this would be no worse than a normal footpath in front of a property, which most city residents have.
Care and Maintenance: Some privacy issues may be resolved by changes to property fences. The Council should meet the cost of making existing fences more secure, and should meet half costs of increasing fence height to the standard 1.8m if residents wish. The pathway will be properly maintained to the normal asset management schedule.
Ugliness of corridor and fences will be mitigated where possible by landscaping and shrub trimming. A well kept corridor will be far more aesthetically pleasing than the current unkempt corridor.
Property Values: may well increase with improved access facilities to some properties and landscaping.
Other: Considerable design effort is being put into lighting concepts which will eliminate light spill into properties, but provide good path lighting.
DISCUSSION
The consultation/information-gathering project did not attempt to gather a scientifically reliable sample. Instead, the major publicity campaign was used to make people aware of the proposal. The concept was presented to the community through three media: the newspaper, displays and leaflets. Detailed engineering design of the cycleway/path was not presented, in favour of concepts and concerns.
The response, 800 completed questionnaires, gives confidence that the results are representative of the views of both the residents living close to the proposed Papanui - Riccarton Railway Cycleway and those of the wider community, including potential users.
The concerns and objections of the local residents are valid and important. Obviously, however, not all can be addressed and resolved by design features should the pathway proceed. If the go ahead is given, contact with local residents will be maintained so that design initiatives do meet the concerns as far as possible.
If the Council wishes to encourage greater uses of cycles, facilities of this type will be required. As with constructing any new transport facility, from a motorway to a tramway, not everyone can be expected to support it. Those most affected; in this case, the adjacent residents would be expected to oppose it. Surprising, two thirds of these people support the proposal.
In response to the consultation process, detailed design work is required on:
Crossing points. Cycle/pedestrian crossing signals are favoured for Fendalton Road and Wairakei Road, and possibly Glandovey Road. The Network Team within City Streets would like to make this decision after the various options have been modelled and the safety of various options audited.
Lighting: Appropriate lighting styles are under review.
Fencing and Landscaping: Matters of fences and landscaping will be evaluated as each stage undergoes full design. Discussion with affected residents will be maintained during this phase.
CONCLUSION
It is recommend that detailed design work should be undertaken and then, once the design has been safety-audited and subjected to further public comment, it should be constructed. The Railway Cycle/Pedestrian Pathway will provide a transport facility of great benefit to the pedestrians and cyclists of Christchurch.
The following persons addressed the Committee - Mr J W C Royds and Mr W Haynes. Their submissions were concerned at the lack of detail to date on the proposal. Mr Royds referred to difficulties in gaining access to the proposed cycleway at intersections with major streets. He had not seen detail of traffic management including traffic islands at the intersections. He requested more detail be available to residents living adjacent to the proposed cycleway.
Mr W Haynes was concerned that outdoor living space will be lost as the proposed cycleway would allow more persons to move along the back fences of residences. A covenant imposed by Transrail over adjacent properties to protect sightlines would not allow him to build a fence higher than the current 3 ft fence.
Ms J Williams, Mr D Kelly, Mr C Donald and Mr S Rutherford addressed the Committee in support of the proposed cycleway. The links to the schools in the area were emphasised by Mr D Kelly. Mr C Donald, Deputy Principal of the Christchurch Boys' High School considered the proposed cycleway would be a safer route to schools for many of the pupils at the school. Mr S Rutherford noted that the route would link St James Park with Hagley Park and be an easy route for cyclists. The wider community benefits should be considered over the concerns expressed by some of the adjacent residents.
In response to a question from Councillor Evans it was noted that stages 4 and 5 would proceed only subject to resource consent approval. A cost benefit analysis of the project was sought by Committee members. The City Streets Manager undertook to provide information to the December Council meeting.
| Recommendation: |
|
| 2. | CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY NEW ZEALAND ROAD SAFETY PROGRAMME (FORMERLY SAFETY (ADMINISTRATION) PROGRAMME) | RR 6684 |
Reports on the meeting of the Traffic Safety Co-ordinating Committee were submitted for information. The Christchurch City's application for funding under the New Zealand Road Safety Programme for 1998/99 had been developed by the Co-ordinating Committee. A summary of the programme is tabled. The programme now requires the approval of the Council prior to submission to the Land Transport Safety Authority.
| Recommendation: | That the application from the Christchurch City Council for funding in the NZ Road Safety Programme for 1998/99 be approved. |
| 3. | CHILDREN'S STRATEGY - PARKING RESTRICTION AT MARSHLAND SCHOOL | RR 6468 |
| Officer responsible | Author |
| City Streets Manager | Michael Thomson |
| Corporate Plan Output: On-Street Operations Page 9.6.12 | |
The purpose of this report is to authorise the installation of a parking restriction on Prestons Road at Marshland School.
Marshland School Board of Trustees have raised concerns about safety for their school children crossing Prestons Road at the school gate. A safety audit of the existing road environment recommended a number of changes to increase safety at the crossing point.
The school's Board of Trustees and the adjoining residential neighbour have agreed to this parking restriction. This restriction has the support of the Parking Operations Manager.
| Recommendation: | That all vehicles be prohibited from parking at all times on the north side of Prestons Road, commencing at a point 180 metres west of the normal centreline of Marshland Road, extending in a westerly direction for a distance of 60 metres. |
| 4. | MOUNTING OF ANTENNAE ON STREET LIGHTING AND TRAFFIC POLES | RR 6520 |
| Officer responsible | Author |
| City Streets Manager | Weng-Kei Chen, Asset Policy Engineer |
| Corporate Plan Output: Customer Services 9.5 text 6 | |
The purpose of this report is to consider a request by Telecom NZ to mount antennae on the Council's streetlighting and traffic signal poles for its micro network. The request has its advantage that there will be no additional poles on the footpath. Telecom staff and consultants were at the meeting to present the proposal.
The proposed work is to improve and enhance the existing cellular network in the business areas. The visual effect in the business environment will be minimal since the road scene has already been dominated with signs, poles, etc. Each set of antennae will be accompanied by a cabinet, the installation of which will be carried out in accordance to Telecommunications Act. The cabinet is larger than those present in the streets and their appropriateness in some of our high amenities areas with high pedestrian counts need to be carefully assessed. It is not unreasonable to restrict the new cabinets in footpaths where peak pedestrian counts are less than 150 per minutes with a clear 2.0 m minimum width of footpath being maintained. In addition occupiers and owners of the adjoining property need also be consulted. The likelihood of these cabinets being defaced with graffiti or posters is also an issue needing to be addressed. Appropriate surface treatment to the cabinet and their maintenance programme will overcome the negative effect to the street scene.
Telecom (NZ) Limited has also proposed a lease agreement with the Council for the use of the poles if the request is granted. The streetscape and amenities issues raised can be incorporated in the lease document. Telecom (NZ) Limited will still need to proceed with Resource Consent processes to install these antennae.
This application is for the use of Council poles only. Six antennae would be installed in the first year with a further six later. They have a range of approximately 300 metres.
| Recommendation: |
|
| 5. | NORTHCOTE EXPRESSWAY - INNES ROAD GREEN CORRIDOR/SURPLUS LAND | RR 6563 |
| Officers responsible | Authors |
| Water Services and Property Managers |
Water Services Landscape Architect,
Christine Heremaia Planning Manager, Robert Watts, Property Services Officer, Lewis Burn |
| Corporate Plan Output: 9.3.9 Water Services City Plan | |
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this report is to put before Council a proposal to retain and declare land (acquired for but now surplus to roading purposes) to be held for another public work (local purpose reserve for appropriate classification). Further this report also seeks the Council's endorsement of a concept plan for a green corridor/waterway enhancement and cycleway linkage on the land to be retained as reserve.
This report was referred to the Shirley/Papanui Community Board for any comment/recommendation to the City Services Committee.
BACKGROUND
In response to a surplus property circular to the Council's Business Units, the Water Services Unit registered an interest in retaining part of the surplus holding for development of a green corridor/enhancement scheme in accordance with a concept identified in the proposed City Plan. The City Plan has clearly signalled the Council's intention to retain a wide buffer along the Innes Road extension and a "green corridor" from the extension to the north-east corner of Briggston School and Clearbrook Street. The balance land, subject to the offer back procedures under the Public Works Act, is to be disposed of.
The Council may under the provisions of Section 52(4) of the Public Works Act 1981, change any local work for another local work in relation to any land that is surplus to the requirements of the original public work for which the land was acquired. The City Streets Unit has indicated that it is agreeable to forgo the sale proceeds that might otherwise be realised from the land proposed to be retained for the proposed new public work.
The Water Services Manager reports:
"Innes Road Green Corridor Plan
1. Introduction
This report initiates the Innes Road Green Corridor Plan and relates it to the proposed City Plan and the Waterways and Wetlands Asset Management Plan. The Property Manager will report on the land tenure issues surrounding this plan in his report that follows on from this report. Recommendations are given at the end of the two reports.
2. Description of the Site
The area of land that is currently owned by the Christchurch City Council is bounded by Queen Elizabeth Drive to the north, Mairehau High School and grazing to the west, Briggston School to the south, and residential development to the east. The Innes Road Extension and associated cycleway linking Innes Road to Queen Elizabeth Drive bisects the block into two separate distinct areas. Both areas are currently used for grazing.
There is a large variation in topography reflecting the earlier landscape of sand dunes and wetlands. A large sand dune and a low-lying wetland is a feature of the block east of Innes Road. In the block west of Innes Road, springs are located in the vicinity of the Mairehau High School boundary. Briggs Road drain originates in the western block and flows under Innes Road to a stormwater pipe in the south eastern corner of the eastern block. A bore hole in the western block indicates that there is an impervious fine silt layer and that ground water has been recorded as 0.29 metres below the ground surface.
Please refer to Appendix One for a Location Map.
3. City Plan
This area is part of a much larger area known as the Mairehau Urban Growth Area, an area identified as suitable for urban development in the proposed City Plan.
A concept for the area has been incorporated into the City Plan and is included in this report as Appendix Two. The area of land owned by the Christchurch City Council and under discussion in this report is highlighted on the Concept Plan.
A number of submissions were received in support and against the proposed urban development within this area. The supporters saw urban zoning as a means of tidying up an unkempt area that is not used for productive rural purposes. The opposers are concerned at the loss of natural values including bird habitat and associated natural ponding and wetlands.
Although the hearing for this area was held during October 1997, a decision will not be released until August 1998.
At the hearing, several Council officers presented evidence. An amended concept plan was presented by the Water Services Unit as further investigations had revealed the need to retain stormwater ponding in the vicinity of Bullers Drain. Expert evidence was also presented on birdlife and plant ecology.
4. Plan Description
John Marsh, a local landscape architect, was engaged to develop a more detailed proposal for the Christchurch City Council owned land based on the concept in the City Plan. In essence the plan utilises land associated with the Innes Road Extension to achieve the following:
This project will also provide a wonderful opportunity to involve the local community and to provide opportunities for environmental education for both the local schools and the wider community.
Implementation of the plan would occur in due course as part of the strategies for walkways and cycleways, and the enhancement of waterways and wetlands. Expenditure of such items is a feature of the existing budget structure of the Parks Unit, Water Services Unit and the City Streets Unit.
Any residential development in this area will be some time away because of sewer limitations. It is therefore likely that the priority for the specific items will be discussed by the Council at future budget meetings.
Please refer to Appendix Three for the concept plan.
5. Conclusion
The land that is currently in Christchurch City Council ownership was acquired under the Public Works Act for roading purposes. Surplus land not required for roading purposes is required to be offered back to the previous owners unless it is required for another public work. The offer back to previous owners needs to occur without further delay and unfortunately, without confirmation of the proposed City Plan. However, in the context of continued urban growth in the longer term, it is considered that provision of the green corridor is well justified and should be proceeded with."
The Property Manager reports:
1. Tenure
In the early to mid 1980s the former Waimairi District Council purchased land under the provisions of the Public Works Act to enable the construction of the Expressway (now Queen Elizabeth II Drive) from Briggs to Marshland Roads and connecting back to Hills road. The construction of the Northcote Expressway and the Innes Road extension has left some 10.3134 hectares surplus to the roading work in this location. The land is now held in five separate titles two of which are link strips either side of Innes Road from Mairehau High School to the Expressway. The land when acquired was zoned rural under the Waimairi District Planning Scheme. The new City Plan proposes the land be zoned L1A & L1B.
2. Former Ownership
The land taken for the Expressway and Innes Road extension which is the subject of this report, was acquired from three owners (Kenyon., MacDonald and Shearer) by agreement. The subsequent roading construction and subdivision process has resulted in land either being added to or omitted from the remnants of the three former titles. Although the current titles differ substantially to the former title boundaries a legal opinion from Buddle Findlay has concluded that it would be appropriate and prudent to establish the interest of any of the former owners and dispose of land that is surplus to the Council's public work requirements. It is known that one of the former owners (Kenyon) is definitely interested in purchasing what remains of his former title and indeed has been pressing the Council to make him an offer. The position of the other two former owners (Shearer and MacDonald) has not as yet been established. A formal offer back of "surplus" land has not been possible before now as it has not been clearly established what parcels of land are surplus to any public work requirement the Council may have. Note in October 1996 the Council approved construction (involving the retention of 4671m2 of this land) of the proposed roundabout at the Innes Road expressway intersection.
3. Disposal
Refer 2920 Appendix Four.
The concept landscape plan that has been prepared which envisages residential development is the first step to identifying those parcels of land that can be released from the public work requirement for disposal (4.2534ha in total subject to survey) either to the former title owners or on the open market. The concept that is being advanced by this plan is for a green corridor to buffer the effects of the expressway/Innes Road and enhance natural water flows. If supported by Council the plan will provide the basis for a schemed subdivision that will allow offers in the first instance to be made to the former owners. Indicative valuation information is made available to the Committee in the public excluded section of this report. At this stage it is not possible to be precise as to the likely proceeds from the sale of the "surplus" parcels which would be sold at current market value of approved schemed areas. The City Streets Unit have been involved in the discussions on the concept plan and are agreeable to forgo any proceeds of sale that would be passed over through retention of the new public (reserve) work should the concept be supported by the Council.
The Shirley/Papanui Community Board supports the recommendations of the City Services Committee which follow this report and congratulated the Water Services Unit on the design. However the Board requested that the Council defer making a decision until February 1998 to allow consultation to take place with residents and consideration of the possible retention of some of the surplus land for reserve.
The Parks Manager reported to the City Services Committee:
"The Parks Unit supports the Green Corridor concept for Innes Road. The plan's objectives for scenic green buffer to the motorway, cycleways, walkways are supported by the Parks Unit. The sale of surplus residential land is also supported.
The Parks Unit's open space objectives for the Mairehau urban growth area are to significantly enlarge Walter Park as a major district sports park and to secure local reserves to provide linkages etc as part of individual subdivisions.
The Green Corridor plan provides local recreation opportunities and therefore some limited financial support via developer's reserve contributions could be made at the time of subdivision to assist in the corridor's development. It is important to state, however, that the Parks Unit's resources will, in general, be targeted toward major parks like Travis Swamp, Clare Park and Walter Park, and as these parks will need development capital in the future.
The Parks Unit therefore supports the sale of surplus land parcels C, E and D at residential market prices and retention of A and B for scenic buffer zone, cycleway, utility waterway and local recreation asset."
Committee members noted the Board's recommendation but did not support the retention of some of the surplus land for reserve. It was agreed that if adopting the green corridor as a concept plan there may be further negotiation with adjacent land owners to amend boundaries to enhance the waterway proposal.
| Recommendation: |
|
| 6. | BANKS PENINSULA ABANDONED VEHICLE CONTROL AND STATIONARY VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT | RR 6719 |
| Officer responsible | Author |
| Parking Operations Manager | Maurice Smith |
| Corporate Plan Output: Parking Enforcement page 8.5.3, Abandoned Vehicles page 8.5.16 | |
The purpose of this report is to seek the Council's authority to enter into a contract with the Banks Peninsula District Council (the District) for the provision of abandoned vehicle control and stationary vehicle enforcement services in the Lyttelton to Cass Bay area (the territory) of the District, and also to provide the District with the use of the Christchurch City Council's (the City) abandoned vehicle storage facility.
DISCUSSION
In July of this year officers of the Banks Peninsula District Council contacted the Parking Operations Manager and proposed that the District contract the City's Parking Unit to provide abandoned vehicle control and stationary vehicle enforcement in the Lyttelton to Cass Bay area, and the policing of the time limit parking restriction in the London Street shopping precinct.
The District subsequently resolved at its August meeting that the District's Works and Services Manager negotiate a contract with the City for provision of the abovementioned services, and a draft contract has since been prepared.
The essential terms of the contract include:
The performance of this contract will necessarily involve Christchurch City Council Parking Wardens and vehicles operating within the abovementioned territory of the Banks Peninsula District Council.
Section 247D of the Local Government Act 1974 empowers the City and the District to enter into this contract, ie it provides general authorisation for one Local Authority to contract with another to perform any of the others functions. Section 7(1) of the Transport Act 1962 provides for the District to appoint the City's staff as Parking Wardens and Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1974 provides for the removal and disposal of abandoned vehicles.
The Council's insurers have confirmed indemnity coverage for any claims which may arise during the course of performing any provisions of the contract.
| Recommendation: |
|
7. PARKING RESTRICTIONS CARMEN ROAD RR 6726
| Officer responsible | Author |
| City Streets Manager | Area Engineer, Paul Burden |
| Corporate Plan Output: Advanced Transport Planning 9.6 text 12 | |
The purpose of this report is to submit a recommendation from the Board to the City Services Committee seeking the removal of a section of kerbside parking in Carmen Road.
A number of speakers at the recent public meeting on the Hornby LATMS mentioned the problem being experienced on Carmen Road in the vicinity of Bella Rosa Drive. When large vehicles are slowing or queuing waiting to turn right from Carmen Road into "Tegal", "Burns and Ferrall" and "Oldfields" factories, north bound traffic is squeezed between parked vehicles and the turning traffic. On some occasions the through lane has become completely blocked. This situation is creating a danger to cyclists and other traffic that is forced between stationary vehicles.
The problem can be overcome by removing kerbside parking from the west side of Carmen Road covering the affected area. This will provide an additional 2 to 2.5 metres of available roadway.
In the longer term Carmen Road will be four laned and protected right turn facilities will be provided at strategic locations which may mean that kerbside parking could be re-introduced. However, in the short term it is anticipated that the removal of this parking together with the possible installation of a painted "flush" median will provide a safer road environment.
Carmen Road is State Highway 1 and 73 and therefore Transit New Zealand is the road controlling authority. The management of kerbside parking on this highway has been delegated to the Council. Transit have given their support to the proposal to remove parking and discussions concerning the installation of a painted median are continuing.
Property owners affected by this proposal have given their consent.
The City Services Committee supported the recommendation of the Riccarton/Wigram Community Board which is referred to the Council.
| Recommendation: | That the parking of vehicles be prohibited at any time on the south-east side of Carmen Road commencing at the intersection of Bella Rosa Drive and extending in a south-westerly direction for a distance of 100 metres. |
8. SAMOAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH LAND GIFT RR 6729
| Officer responsible | Author |
| Water Services Manager | Stephen Bensberg |
| Corporate Plan Output: Water Services Unit, Land Drainage Capital Output | |
The purpose of this report is to advise the Council that as part of a building development at the corner of Dyers Road and Linwood Avenue the Samoan Congregational Church is gifting a portion of their land to the Christchurch City Council for use as a reserve.
BACKGROUND
As part of a building development at the corner of Dyers Road and Linwood Avenue the Samoan Congregational Church are giving a 30 m wide strip of land adjacent to Outfall Drain Linwood Avenue to the Christchurch City Council for use as a reserve (3,326 square metres as shown A, B, C and D on plan S2810 attached). In addition the Church has agreed to grant the Council a 10 metre wide easement over the drain depicted as E and F on the plan in order that the drain can be re-aligned and enhanced.
The gift is being made as an environmental trade off as per clause 3.4.16 of the City Plan to facilitate their development. The development involves the construction and use of a church, Minister's house, early childhood centre and associated car parking. One area of concern during the resource consent process was the access to the site. The City Streets Unit opposed access directly to Dyers Road because of traffic hazards between the congregation's vehicle movements and heavy trucks utilising Dyers Road. A solution was found by allowing temporary access along a legal unformed road on the south side of Outfall Drain as shown on the sketch appended with this report. Permanent access will be obtained as land immediately south of the site is subdivided and associated roading is constructed.
The acquisition of this land by the Council will provide an extension to the existing park on the east side of Dyers Road which was vested as part of the Brookhaven subdivision. The land will also be well located to facilitate other Council projects. These include:
While the land is being gifted to the Council there are some conditions. These are:
The Property Unit has negotiated an agreement with the Church conditional upon the above terms and Council approval of the project. The land has an estimated value of $115,000. This proposal has allowed the Church's development of a block of land which was previously vacant and unkempt. The Church development will improve the visual amenity aspects of the area and the future Outfall Drain waterway improvements will add to its value.
This report will also be forwarded to the Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board for its information.
| Recommendation: |
|
9. SUMNER MARDI GRAS RR 6728
| Officer responsible | Author |
| City Streets Manager | Brian Neill, Traffic Engineer |
| Corporate Plan Output: Traffic Signs and Markings | |
The purpose of this report is to gain the Council's support for a proposal to close parts of Marriner Street and Wakefield Avenue (Sumner) to stage a Mardi Gras.
BACKGROUND
Mr Chris Wornall has approached the Council with a proposal to stage a Mardi Gras in the Sumner Shopping Village during the afternoon of Sunday 22 February 1998. Mr Wornall had initially discussed the proposal with Area Engineer Lorraine Wilmshurst and Brian Neill to ascertain whether it was a practicable proposition to close portions of Marriner Street and Wakefield Avenue to allow the Mardi Gras to proceed.
Issues such as available detours for through traffic and control of the road closures and use of the street space were covered in these discussions. An undertaking was given that, provided Council requirements can be met by the organisers and that the whole village business community is involved then appropriate road closures and traffic control measures could be put into place on the day. The proposed closure will be subject to the procedures set out in the tenth schedule of the Local Government Act.
COMMUNITY BOARD SUPPORT
Mr Wornall presented his well documented proposal (including a printers black pull of a brochure which will be available to the business and residential communities) to a meeting of the Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board on Tuesday 25 November. The Board decided to support the proposal and commended Mr Wornall for his initiative.
SUMMARY
The proposal for staging a Mardi Gras in Sumner on Sunday 22 February 1998 has been well researched and the Council can be confident that, provided the Sumner business and residential communities carry through with their initial support for the proposal, the event may become an established highlight on the events calendar in the future.
| Recommendation: | That the Council support the proposal to close parts of Marriner Street and Wakefield Avenue to through traffic on the afternoon/early evening of Sunday 22 February 1998 for the purpose of staging a Mardi Gras. |
PART B - REPORTS FOR INFORMATION
10. DEPUTATIONS BY APPOINTMENT
RAILWAY CYCLE PROJECT
The following persons requested the opportunity to address the Committee on the project:
- Mr J W C Royds
- Mr W Haynes
- Ms J Williams
- Mr D Kelly
- Mr C Donald
- Mr S Rutherford
11. NZ POLICE - CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT SAFETY REPORT: 1 JULY 1996-30 SEPTEMBER 1997
Inspector Jim McKee and Mr Warwick Nichol were in attendance. Mr Nichol advised that 50 extra staff were expected in the Christchurch city area over the next two years. In response to questions from Committee members Mr Nichol advised that traffic enforcement was a high priority for Police. Approximately 20% of the current budget for enforcement was allocated to traffic issues.
| 12. | CHRISTCHURCH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT RESOURCE CONSENT PROGRESS | RR 6670 |
The present consent for the Wastewater Treatment Plant expires in 2001 and in August 1996 the Council approved a programme of investigation and consultation to plan for a new consent to fulfil the requirements of the Resource Management Act. A working party is made up of representatives of various interest groups and includes Councillors O'Rourke, Evans and Wright.
The Woodward-Clyde team has been commissioned to undertake a study of the options and report early in 1998. Progress reports will be submitted to the City Services Committee. The Committee has requested that the final option be presented to the Council by 30 September 1998.
13. COMMUNITY TRUST - FUNDING YEAR 2000 RR 6662
The Committee was advised of the seminar held on Thursday 13 November 1997 to discuss Year 2000 projects to be put forward for possible funding by the Community Trust. This Committee supports the following projects:
- The Environment Centre which would include displays/information on projects such as recycling developments, landfill engineering, roading and alternatives to roading strategies, drainage, wastewater and water supply developments.
- Travis wetland development, and visitor centre, including the green corridor to be developed for wildlife as part of the Stage I Burwood-Woolston Expressway project.
- The Canterbury highway landscaping and enhancement from Kaikoura to Waimate.
14. NATIONAL LAND TRANSPORT STRATEGY RR 6679
The Ministry of Transport has recently released the National Land Transport Strategy discussion document. Submissions and comments have been sought by the Ministry of Transport by 19 December 1997.
The Committee decided to hold a seminar for the Land Transport Sub-Committee and other interested Councillors on 5 December. A draft Council submission would then be prepared and reported direct to the Council meeting on 17 December.
15. NORTH CHRISTCHURCH TRANSPORT STUDY RR 6606
Progress on this transportation study has been delayed by the allocation of all available planning resources to the four major priority areas of:
There is a major commitment of staff time to the City Plan process. The City Plan submission hearings process has been sped up by the City Plan Hearing Panel and is now due for completion in May next year.
With some of these projects coming towards completion in the next few months, it is envisaged that the planning process for the development of the North Christchurch Transport Study will occur in earnest early in the new calendar year.
Presently, a study brief is being jointly drafted with Transit New Zealand, to assess the options for the major transport corridors and TNZ designations in the area, particularly with regard to the northern portions of this area adjacent to Belfast. Transit are willing to co-fund the study because they are keen to assess the options for the TNZ designations in the area. This study will also consider options based on the possibility of significant urban growth to the south of Belfast. This joint study with Transit NZ will be used to give fresh impetus to the North Christchurch Transport Study, as resources come free from, in particular, the City Plan hearing process during the first half of next year.
This report was received also by the Shirley/Papanui Community Board which advised the City Services Committee that for a number of reasons, priority should be given to progressing this study. Many of the traffic problems in the Board's area could not be satisfactorily resolved until there has been a solution worked through for northern access to Christchurch. The Board decided to recommend to the City Services Committee that staff be asked to provide a programme to commence the study in the early New Year, as this study was to have commenced in early 1996.
Committee members, whilst agreeing with the Community Board that the North Christchurch Transport Study is an important issue needing consideration, it is but one of a number of transport issues facing the city. More resources would be sought to progress these issues and establish priorities.
The Committee received the information and has requested that the study brief for the North Christchurch Transport Study be submitted to the Committee before finalisation.
PART C - REPORT ON DELEGATED DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE
16. STREET TREE REPLACEMENTS RR 6471
The Committee has considered requests from residents for the replacement of street trees in the following streets.
1. Archdale Place
Residents requested that the Council replace the existing silver birch trees with smaller growing trees because of the large size of the trees, damage to services and footpaths and problems of litter and shading. There are seven large trees in the street and two smaller ones. Eleven residents requested that the birch trees be removed and two requested that they be retained. The Parks Arboriculturist commented that the birch trees in Archdale Place make a very attractive contribution to the landscape of the street and the amenity values of the neighbourhood.
It was resolved that the requests of the residents of Archdale Place to replace the birch trees be declined.
2. Harkness Place
Some residents in Harkness Place have also requested that the Council replace silver birch trees with smaller growing trees. Ten residents requested that the trees be removed and five requested that they be retained. The Parks Arboriculturist again recommended that the trees be retained as they are contributing to an attractively designed street.
It was resolved that the application to replace the silver birch trees in Harkness Place be declined.
3. Mavin Road
Residents of Mavin Road have requested that flowering crabapple trees be replaced with a medium sized deciduous species. The crabapples are prone to premature leaf fall in early summer leaving them sparsely foliaged and somewhat unsightly for the remainder of the year. Eighteen residents requested that the trees be removed and three requested that they be retained. The Parks Arboriculturist commented that the trees were not attractive specimens and some showed signs of branch dieback.
It was resolved that the crabapple trees in Mavin Road be replaced by medium sized deciduous species.
17. RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC
The Committee resolved that the draft resolution to exclude the public set out on page 29 of the agenda be adopted.
CONSIDERED THIS 17TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1997
MAYOR