Tag: urban design

What will Harewood traffic lights campaign deliver?

Opinion: Years of campaigning for traffic lights at the Harewood/Gardiners/Breens intersection might be about to pay off for Harewood Councillor Aaron Keown. The Christchurch City Council is currently consulting on options to improve safety at the intersection. Will a focus on this one intersection however deliver the best result for residents?Harewood-Gardiners-Breens 1

I was interested to read former Mayor Garry Moore’s recent editorial on the Council’s Annual Planning process. Garry sees many projects and issues pitched to Council during the budgeting exercise, but bemoans a lack of big-picture thinking about Council’s overall priorities and trade-offs to balance the budget and constrain rates rises. Likewise, I’m concerned that a single-minded focus on the Harewood/Gardiners/Breens intersection in isolation might not serve the community well.

Harewood-Gardiners-Breens 5
Consultation documents on display at the Papanui Library

Continue reading “What will Harewood traffic lights campaign deliver?”

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”

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”

Residents voice views on downstream traffic plans

Have your say: the draft Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC) Downstream Effects Management Plan is open for public feedback. As a condition of the project’s consent, this plan is required before the CNC opens. The plan “recommends a programme of work to reduce the downstream effects of the CNC”, however not everyone is a fan. There is a ‘Can the Plan’ campaign underway in the local community, as can be seen on the front page of the latest St Albans News:

Can the Plan STAN p1
Image credit: St Albans News, April/May 2019

What’s in the plan?

The CNC is expected to open in late 2020. The draft management plan proposes three delivery stages for mitigation work: Continue reading “Residents voice views on downstream traffic plans”

Commentary: Tree troubles rile residents in Northfield Road

The 26 February Nor’West News features the story of Northfield Road residents seeking removal of a tree outside their property. The article notes issues with fallen branches, power outages, ruptured concrete and a damaged fence.

Northfield tree 1

I frequently run along tree-lined Northfield Road, usually in the early morning. More than once I’ve stumbled on pavement that has been pushed up and cracked by tree roots. This seems to be an issue right along the road – not just outside any one house. The pre-dawn trip hazard of the uneven surface is compounded by deep shadows cast due to the trees blocking street lighting. Continue reading “Commentary: Tree troubles rile residents in Northfield Road”