Christchurch Hospital Redevelopment Consultation

Christchurch Hospital Redevelopment Consultation to End Next Week

A public consultation on the proposed Christchurch Hospital Redevelopment will end on Tuesday 4 May – and Canterbury people are encouraged to have their say before then.

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) and the Christchurch City Council began a joint public consultation on the proposed redevelopment on 30 March.

The CDHB revealed the proposal for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of Christchurch Hospital last year.

This came about after the CDHB’s facilities planning process, which included input from a wide range of clinical leaders, clarified the need for new hospital buildings. It identified the need for more space and earthquake-resistant buildings that had the flexibility to meet the future demands of a rapidly ageing population.

CDHB Chief Executive David Meates said he was pleased with the response to the consultation process so far but he urged more people to give their views before it closed. Since the consultation began, CDHB and Council staff have been meeting with various community and health groups to discuss the proposal.

“We want to ensure we get as much feedback as possible on our plans for redeveloping Christchurch Hospital. We think it is an exciting and significant concept that will ensure Canterbury people can be offered quality healthcare into the 21st century. It is important we hear what the people of Canterbury think about the proposal.”

The proposed design includes two new multilevel buildings being built behind the current hospital buildings. It also includes drop-off zones and separate access ways for patients, visitors and vehicles. A new front entrance and redesigned specialist services such as a new children’s facility are part of the plan.

The proposal also involves the exchange of an area of Hagley Park (which includes a car park currently used by the hospital) with a similar sized piece of land between the hospital’s Riverside block and the Avon River. The land swap is needed to accommodate the proposed redevelopment because without it there would not be enough land to build on. “We really want to know whether people are comfortable with the exchange of land required to achieve the hospital the community needs for the future,” said Alan Bywater, Programme Manager at Christchurch City Council.

Information about the consultation and submission forms is available at www.cdhb.govt.org.nz or www.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay and from:

•Main receptions in Canterbury District Health Board hospitals
•The ground floor foyer of University of Otago, Christchurch
•Christchurch City Council service centres or libraries

People who request to speak to a hearings panel about their submission will have the opportunity to do so from 31 May to 4 June. The panel will make a recommendation to both the Council and CDHB, who will make the final decision whether to proceed with the proposal.

ENDS

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