Thursday 4 April 2013

Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting held today

Cycle Design Guidelines ready for decision
Christchurch City Council’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee today agreed to recommend to the Council meeting on 24 April, for approval of the Christchurch Cycle Design Guidelines. This guide outlines the design and concept plans for the future cycle network of the city.

The Committee was encouraged by the plans for the cycle facilities in the various street environments of Christchurch. The Cycle Design Guidelines will incorporate how cycle ways work best with pedestrians and other road users, with safety for all at the forefront of its planning. It will also look at how cycle way designs will have a minimal impact on the trade of local businesses.

SCIRT infrastructure rebuild on track
SCIRT rebuild work and budgets for this year are delivering on their promise and looking for further funding to increase their progress with the more rebuild projects.

The March 2013 Monthly report which the Committee will recommend to the Council, outlines that SCIRT are on budget and will be listening to Council staff recommendations for further betterment projects that will improve the progress of the city’s ongoing rebuild work.

SCIRT has also outlined its plan to inform the public of their ongoing progress with the rebuild by introducing a programme of real-time rebuild tracking. Similar to a countdown clock, a number of mobile electronic messaging boards will be erected around the city informing the public of the increasing amount of projects completed, like kilometres of roads fixed, square metres of pavement re-laid and freshwater pipes repaired.

University of Canterbury Quake Centre to partner with the Council
The Committee today approved a recommendation for the Council to become a partner of the University of Canterbury Quake Centre.

The University of Canterbury Quake Centre was launched last week and is primarily tasked with to delivering tomorrow's earthquake engineering solutions today, for Christchurch, New Zealand and the world. In becoming a partner the Council will be committing to being one of a number of contributors to their earthquake research for the next five years.

Spire Sculpture by Neil Dawson proposed for Latimer Square
The Committee today approved a recommendation for the Council to grant a three year licence to install a ‘Spire’ sculpture by famed sculptor, Neil Dawson. The ‘Spire’ sculpture would be suspended five metres above Latimer Square by guide wires connected to four fixed uptight poles, without impeding on the current pathways through the square.

Other items approved for recommendation to the Council meeting on 24 April 2013:

• The committee will recommend to the Council the delegation of authority to the Council Hearing Panel to hear and determine objections and appeals lodged regarding Council-owned retaining walls be adopted.

• The committee agreed to recommend to the Council for the delegation of authority to the General Manager of City Environment Group and General Manager of Strategy and Planning to lodge a Notice of Requirement for progression with the Wigram Magdala Road link.

-ENDS-

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