International Speakers Converge On Christchurch
International Speakers Converge On Christchurch
International speakers from around the globe are being brought to Christchurch next weekend (27 and 28 August) to share their experiences relating to the redevelopment of cities and communities devastated by natural and human disasters.
Leading the line-up is
Sir Richard Leese who oversaw the 10-year regeneration of
Manchester following the IRA bombing in 1996 and Charles
Eadie who led the Santa Cruz Gang of 36 who planned and
implemented the recovery of the central business district
following the 1989 San Francisco
earthquake.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says this is
a wonderful opportunity for the community to hear and be
inspired by those who have led projects which revitalised
communities destroyed by bombs, earthquakes, hurricanes and
bush fires.
“Christchurch has seen enough
devastation in the last year to last a lifetime. For many in
our community, the continuing severity of the aftershocks
offers little hope. What these speakers will show that with
good planning, a degree of tenacity and a strong sense of
community, we can overcome this adversity and be a strong,
safe city again.
“The International Speaker Series
is a great opportunity for our community to be inspired and
also to hear what these experts have to say about the draft
Central City Plan which has been released for consultation
this week.”
Sir Richard Leese and Charles Eadie will
be joined at the event by:
• Kerry O’Neill who worked
with the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery
Authority to rebuild communities devastated by the 2009
Victorian bushfires. She was responsible for the social
planning for urban renewal
projects.
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•
• London-based international
landscape architect Sam Martin whose work focuses on
creating spaces which have the human factor: looking at
people and the way they interact with their environment. He
was born in Canterbury.
•
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• Douglas
Ahlers who is the director of the Broadmoor Project for New
Orleans Recovery at Harvard University, advising cities like
San Francisco and Los Angeles on their disaster recovery and
resiliency planning.
•
•
• David Lindsay,
who as Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Energy and
Infrastructure strategically allocated significant funding
to build various infrastructure projects and arts, sports
and cultural facilities in a short
time.
•
•
Each speaker will talk about their
experiences in rebuilding or designing communities and
discuss their thoughts on the draft Plan to redevelop
Christchurch’s Central City.
The International
Speaker Series is being held at the University of
Canterbury’s Central Lecture Theatre next weekend 27 and
28 August from 9.30am to 5pm. There is limited seating,
seats will be allocated on a first come basis. For further
details visit the website
centralcityplan.org.nz
ends