Opening of Maximillians Dance Studio & Cafe

20 December 2002

I'm delighted to be here in a heritage building that is still standing, and has been put to a good new use. A sensation that, possibly, some of us can relate to!

Peter Beyer has now joined the Christchurch roll of honour for people from the private sector who have dipped into their own pockets to support inner city revival!

All the way through I have tried to make it clear that we as a Council want to be the brokers, not the bankers, for inner city development.

Without the support from the private investors who saw the potential in our clear signal, and with their commitment to the inner city, put their money on the line, we would not have the humming inner city we now have.

Far be it from me to gloat but has anyone realised what a great thing it is that people these days are moaning about how hard it is to park in the inner city. Five years ago the anger was about how slow the inner city was; now people are grumpy about the buzz!

Really we should all be delighted that the evidence that Christchurch knows how to do public / private partnerships well is so compelling.

This pride in effective partnerships should be doubled when it involves finding a new use for a heritage gem like this building. When our history gets a facelift we all gain.