Month: July 2019

A new PAK’nSAVE for Main North Road?

Analysis: This week the Christchurch City Council publicly notified a resource consent application from Foodstuffs for a new supermarket and self-service fuel station at 171 Main North Road. What’s being proposed, and what does the community think about it?

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Foodstuffs’ resource consent application is open for public feedback until 16 August 2019. I was alerted to this through a Facebook post from Papanui Councillor Mike Davidson, and I put up a post on Think Papanui with some images and a brief description.

A number of questions and issues were raised in comments on Think Papanui’s post, including: Continue reading “A new PAK’nSAVE for Main North Road?”

Think Papanui and The Christchurch App announce local news collaboration

Press release: Hyper-local news sites Think Papanui and The Christchurch App are collaborating to increase the availability of local democracy reporting and community news in Christchurch. Think Papanui’s news can now be found on a dedicated Papanui button on the Christchurch App, as well as through Think Papanui’s own website and social media channels.

Simon Britten founded Think Papanui in 2016. The initiative focuses on the Papanui Ward (Redwood, Northcote, Papanui, and some surrounding areas), and shares information on City Council consultations, Community Board agenda items and decisions, local projects in action, and generally what’s happening in the community.

Metropol Magazine Publisher Murray Dempsey launched The Christchurch App in 2018. “With so much attention being focused on what’s happening at a national and international level” said Murray, “we believe there is a need for a news site focused on delivering relevant local news and events”.

Papanui Ward Councillor Mike Davidson was pleased to hear of the collaboration. “Think Papanui has been a valuable asset for Papanui Ward residents over the last three years” said Councillor Davidson, “and now to be teamed up with the Christchurch App is a massive win for our community. As a user myself of the Christchurch App to be able to quickly retrieve local news from Think Papanui is fantastic.”

For more information:

Think Papanui:
Simon Britten, curator, info@thinkpapanui.nz or 027 787 5241
https://thinkpapanui.nz/
https://www.facebook.com/ThinkPapanui/

The Christchurch App:
Advertising enquiries: Murray Dempsey, Managing Director, Metros Publishing Group
murray@metros.co.nz or 021 639 994

Tracey Edwardes, journalist, tracey@thechchapp.co.nz or 021 332 737
https://www.thechristchurchapp.co.nz/
https://www.facebook.com/chchapp/

Why the low public response to Water Strategy consultation?

Opinion: Consultation closed yesterday on the Christchurch City Council’s draft Integrated Water Strategy. This Strategy is described as setting a framework to help the Council manage water supply, wastewater, & stormwater, and also water infrastructure, waterways, and coastal waters. It’s a Strategy that relates to $10 billion in Council spending and a 100-year view.

Simon IWS comment in Tuesday Club
Coverage of the Water Strategy in the Tuesday Club newsletter

Sounds important, right? Especially when water is something that impacts every member of the community, and people will march in the street over issues like water bottling? I attended two of the Council’s drop-in information sessions on the draft Strategy (and viewed the sign-in sheet for the others), and am sad to say there was a near-zero attendance by members of the public. Most sessions have had one or two people sign in. Why are so few people turning out? Continue reading “Why the low public response to Water Strategy consultation?”

Recap: Council grants greater powers to Christchurch community boards

In a Council meeting last month, a decision was made that was years in the making, and that shifts some powers closer to local communities. It doesn’t seem to have received much press and I haven’t seen elected members commenting about it on social media. Read on for details…

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Councillor Sara Templeton speaks in support of the proposed partnership approach

When I was on the campaign trail in the 2016 local body elections, an issue I heard discussed was the decision making authority and responsibilities held by Christchurch’s Community Boards. Continue reading “Recap: Council grants greater powers to Christchurch community boards”