Recommendations on the future of North West Christchurch
The Christchurch City Council’s Planning Committee has recommended the Council undertakes a series of rezonings following a study of the North West Review Area (NWRA).
In the first instance, the Committee recommended Council staff prepare a plan change to rezone 100 hectares, currently zoned rural, for industrial business purposes to accommodate demand for business land in the north west of Christchurch. These areas are:
- approximately 15 hectares for industrial business purposes at 711 Johns Road, north of Waimakariri Road (Area 1);
- approximately 50 hectares for industrial business purposes, north of Wairakei Road between Woolridge Road and Russley Road (Area 2); and
- approximately 35 hectares for industrial business purposes, between Hawthornden Road and Russley Road (Area 3).
The Committee also recommended that the Council lead a plan change to provide a clearer policy framework for the Special Purpose (Airport) zone (SPAZ) in the City Plan. There has been pressure for non-airport related activities in the airport zone, which have been granted resource consent due to the limitations in the current policy framework. The proposed plan change will review the rules around activities permitted within the SPAZ, with consideration given to allowing a wide range of business activities in the 80 hectare Dakota Park – identified as a zone suitable for cargo and freight handling activities.
Finally, the Committee recommended that a special ‘Rural-Urban Fringe’ zone* be created as part of the Council’s District Plan Review from 2014 onwards. This rezoning reflects the importance of the area in terms of its natural and physical resources such as groundwater aquifers and high quality soils, its strategic significance as part of the gateway to Christchurch and its role in linking the city, Christchurch International Airport and the State Highway network.
The Planning Committee’s recommendation will support the ongoing use of the area for rural activities, and to maintain the natural and physical resources of the NWRA while enabling the development of areas for industrial business activities to support the recovery of the city.
The Committee expects there to be ongoing pressure on this area for a range of uses, particularly as a result of residential and business displacement caused by the earthquakes, and their intention is to ensure there is enough land available to accommodate business growth.
The Planning Committee’s recommendations will be considered by Council when they meet on Thursday 25 October 2012.
The NWRA is an area of approximately 860 hectares situated between the airport and the city’s urban edge. It extends for approximately 10 kilometres along State Highway 1 between Yaldhurst Road in the south and Johns Road, adjacent to The Groynes/Clearwater, in the north.
Background
In July 2011 the Council sought input from the community and stakeholders about their aspirations for the North West Review Area (NWRA) and the issues that should be addressed in the study. Feedback was received on what people wanted retained and the changes that they sought, which has informed the staff’s recommendations.
The study has also considered the natural and physical resources of the NWRA and the direction provided by policies and strategies. These and other factors have informed the evaluation of options on the appropriate land uses in the NWRA. An assessment has also been undertaken of the different parts of the NWRA against criteria to determine the most appropriate locations for industrial business use. Criteria has included a range of matters including accessibility, the availability of infrastructure, continuity with existing business areas and environmental values amongst other matters.
*A Rural-Urban Fringe zone is a transition zone between urban and rural areas which typically supports open spaces, sporting and recreation facilities and community facilities while enabling its ongoing use for agricultural and horticultural activities.