Tag: commentary

Kmart to open in Papanui – your questions answered

Recently the Think Papanui broke the news that Kmart’s Papanui store is planned to open on the 2nd of April 2020.

Kmart opening 2 April 2020

I curate Think Papanui’s content, and have been taking a look through the questions and comments on the post I put up announcing the opening date. In this article I’ll endeavour to respond to some of these – please note that I don’t speak for or on behalf of Kmart, but I’ll include links & references where possible. Best efforts are made to ensure this information is correct as at the date of publication, but if you’re reading this at some point in the future keep in mind that circumstances may have changed. Continue reading “Kmart to open in Papanui – your questions answered”

Why I’m standing as a Papanui Ward candidate

Commentary: I am a Papanui Ward candidate in the 2019 local authority elections. This isn’t my first governance experience – I’ve had a number of board roles, and was a Papanui Ward candidate in the 2016 election. So why am I putting myself forward for this position at this time?

Simon Britten 2019 Flyer 1

I value Continue reading “Why I’m standing as a Papanui Ward candidate”

Council settles on solution for CNC traffic south of Berwick Street

Commentary: the plan to manage traffic downstream of the Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC) included nine options to manage the motorway’s additional traffic south of Berwick Street through to Bealey Avenue. The Christchurch City Council requested staff to proceed with scoping the three highest-ranking options as part of the first stage of downstream works. One of those options has now been picked and is included in the current consultation on transport projects in the Cranford Street area.

DEMP stage 1 cover.jpg
Detail from the cover of the Council’s consultation document, July 2019

I’ve been following the progress of the Christchurch Northern Corridor for a number of years, and have been covering the Downstream Effects Management Plan in some detail (see links below). It has been my view that the decision around traffic ‘south of Berwick’ was one of the most significant, but also one that hasn’t been clearly communicated. Continue reading “Council settles on solution for CNC traffic south of Berwick Street”

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”

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”