Key recommendations from the Committee of the Whole

Christchurch City Council's Earthquake Recovery Committee of the Whole met yesterday. Following were the key matters considered and recommendations the Committee will make to the Council:

Sumner Road reinstatement work endorsed to begin this year
The Committee has endorsed the recommendation to the Council later this month to move forward with the rebuilding work of Sumner Road. Sumner Road, between Evans Pass Road and Summit Road, has been closed to all traffic since the February 2011 earthquake on the grounds of safety due to unstable rocks and slopes.

The reinstatement of the route is expected to take eighteen months and cost $40 million dollars, which has already been budgeted for in the Christchurch City Three Year Plan. Upon expected completion by the end of 2016, the route will be returned to a pre-quake level of service. The next stage of the process will be the public engagement feedback phase.

Red zone revaluations extension
The Committee recommended a 10 day extension of the deadline for objections to rating revaluations in the red zone. This means owners of red zone properties have until 12 May 2014 to lodge objections. The extension is effective immediately and will be ratified by the Council at the next meeting on 8 May 2014. The decision to extend the objections period follows an approach from the Human Rights Commission which was concerned about the impact of the revaluations on red zone properties and the stress this had caused owners.

Affordable and social housing consultation process to be considered on 12 May
The Committee asked staff to develop a Statement of Proposal for public consultation in the areas of affordable and social housing for consideration at a 12 May Council meeting.

The Council is considering becoming involved in the provision of affordable housing and is re-evaluating the future ownership, management and development of its social housing portfolio.
The Committee also asked staff to provide advice to the 12 May Council meeting on a consultation process to be carried out on the draft Christchurch Housing Accord it recently signed with the Government.

Rates remission policy to be reviewed to assist those affected by recent floods
The Committee has recommended staff develop rate remission criteria to apply to households affected by flooding and land movement caused by flooding. The report will also cover the timing of the implementation of the new criteria and it will go to the Council for decision by the end of May.

Majestic Theatre update
Following the meeting of the Earthquake Recovery Committee on 3 April 2014, staff requested urgent advice is obtained on the implications of the Council's position on the Majestic Theatre demolition. Christchurch City Council officials and Warwick Isaacs, Director of Central Christchurch Development Unit (CCDU) then met to discuss the issues and advice on 3 April 2014.

Following this meeting, there was subsequent correspondence and having considered all advice, the Council has decided it is clear there are no grounds for a successful judicial review application to the High Court to overturn CERA's section 38 notice and halt the demolition of the Theatre.

Transport projects update
The Committee will recommend to the Council that it gives the go-ahead to begin work on transport projects needed to support the Anchor Projects and approval to engage with the public and stakeholders over the design concepts of the initial suite of 'First Phase Projects'. This work is designed to align with SCIRT programme wherever possible.

Staff have been working through the details of the projects in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan (CCRP) and have recommended amendments that two projects be deferred and four projects added.

To view the projects please visit the website by clicking here.

The extra projects are required to support the Bus Interchange and need to be in place by April 2015. They include:
* Tuam Street from Durham to Madras streets (Project 9)
* Lichfield Street from Manchester to Oxford streets (Project 10)
* Colombo Street from Hereford to St Asaph streets (Project 11)
* Establishing a 30 kilometres per hour speed limit environment.

It is recommended that one project be deferred (for more information click here).

The Committee will recommend the Council begins public and stakeholder engagement on the design concepts for each project. The indicative cost of this first phase is $72 million dollars with an additional $4 million for bus super stops that will be funded separately.

As part of this report to the Council, staff have been requested to provide advice on how work on Kilmore and Salisbury streets can be brought forward in line with community aspirations and SCIRT repair programme.

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