Author: Simon Britten

Community Board keen to cut Harewood Road cycleway

Commentary: The planned Wheels to Wings cycleway isn’t a priority for the Waimāero/Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board. Speaking to Council last week in support of the Board’s Annual Plan submission, Chairman Sam MacDonald asked for this major cycle route to be deferred, “…should that be the community’s preference”.

Sam MacDonald Annual Plan submission
Councillor Glen Livingstone checks that he heard right – does the Community Board want the cycleway deferred?

I’m surprised that a Community Board would frame a proposed cycleway so negatively, while at the same time acknowledging that the community is yet to be consulted on the project. “…the [informal] feedback we get at the moment is that with the pressing needs of the city, that isn’t seen as a priority”. Continue reading “Community Board keen to cut Harewood Road cycleway”

In the news: Simon comments on Kmart’s move

In the news this week: I spoke to Jess Gibson from the Nor’West News after Think Papanui broke the news about Kmart moving from Shirley to Papanui. Read the article here, or see page 3 in the full digital edition of the paper online.Kmart-Simon in NWN

Commentary: Kmart moving to Papanui

Kmart no plans in Papanui redactedI’ve seen a massive public response to recent news that Kmart Shirley will be relocating to the new Northlink shopping precinct on Langdons Road in Papanui. Rumours of Kmart opening a store in the Papanui area have been circulating for a while. I’ve asked Kmart’s corporate office about this several times, and as recently as two months ago, the response was “We do not have plans in Papanui at this stage.” I’ve passed on these responses to Think Papanui readers in good faith. Decisions to close and open major retail stores aren’t made overnight, so I’m left wondering if the person I was communicating with was not aware of the plans being made at higher levels in the organisation, or was simply being economical with the truth? Continue reading “Commentary: Kmart moving to Papanui”

Submission on Christchurch Northern Corridor traffic mitigation

At the start of this week I submitted feedback to Council on the draft Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC) Downstream Effects Mitigation Plan. The draft plan is no longer open for feedback – I left my response to pretty much the last minute as I’d been waiting on information from the NZ Transport Agency regarding the benefits of the project.

CNC DEMP 1080 sq

In the interests of transparency in light of my Papanui Ward candidacy in the 2019 local government elections, my submission follows: Continue reading “Submission on Christchurch Northern Corridor traffic mitigation”

Exploring Papanui Ward

[2022 update: this article refers to the Papanui Ward boundaries as they existed from 2016 to 2022. Following the Council’s 2021 representation review, changes to boundaries will apply from the 2022 election. Changes are noted in an article published in July 2022.]

Analysis: Papanui Ward is one of 19 wards & subdivisions that the city of Christchurch is divided into for local government representation. It has a population of around 25,000 people and includes a whole lot more than just the suburb of Papanui. It’s where I make my home, where I work, and where my children attend school. It’s also the area of focus for Think Papanui. So, where exactly is Papanui Ward and how do readers know if they’re part of it? Here’s a brief overview and a visual tour of some parts of the Ward.

CCC Papanui Ward map 2016
Papanui Ward (showing the 2016 population of 23,094 people)

Papanui Ward is described in detail on the Christchurch City Council website. (If you want to check what Ward you live in, you can use the Council’s interactive online map.)

Candidates elected to represent the Papanui Ward in 2019 will be part of the Waipapa/Papanui-Innes Community Board, so will be making decisions across a much larger population and geographic area than just Papanui (link to 2016 map). The Papanui Councillor will also be part of decisions that affect the whole city, or parts other than Papanui. Continue reading “Exploring Papanui Ward”