Frustrated Christchurch residents grappling to grasp the implications of three major regeneration projects in their suburb have taken matters into their own hands.
New Brighton, in Christchurch, is the focus of three major projects underway in Christchurch at the moment. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Graham
New Brighton has been the focus of government and council plans to rejuvenate the area after being badly hit in the Canterbury earthquakes.
Now locals are being asked to give their views on three projects all affecting the suburb, and some say they need more time and more information.
Plans are underway by Development Christchurch (DCL) for a hot saltwater pool in New Brighton. The once bustling but now downcast shopping area is in line for a rejig by the Christchurch City Council, and a proposal from Regenerate Christchurch could see low-cost housing built on a golf course.
All three projects are currently out for public consultation and all three close next week.
The proposal for low-cost housing is part of one of ten options put forward by Regenerate Christchurch for the future of the residential redzone land damaged in the earthquakes.
New Brighton resident Esther Perriam was one of a group of 20 locals who sent an open letter to Regenerate Christchurch asking it to hold public meetings to provide people with more information and to extend the consultation period, but this request was turned down.
A week ago Mrs Perriam posted on Facebook suggesting the community organise its own public meeting.
And on Wednesday night a crowd of around 300 people packed the New Brighton Working Men's club to hear from those involved in, and affected by, the projects.
Mrs Perriam said all three projects presented great opportunities, but people didn't feel they properly understood how the projects impact each other or the wider community.
"Really it was around having a lot of stuff happening in a really short time frame, and having transparent and overlapping conversations rather than conversations that were happening in isolation.
"And weren't really taking in account all the different projects that are happening or could be happening out here."
She said the coordination between the groups working on the projects had not been good.
"Everyone has really good intentions to coordinate but the intentions haven't played out in actuality.
"Even though people want to talk there is so much information to wade through that it is hard to know what is pertinent."
The proposal to put affordable housing on the golf course on Crown land was the most contentious project on the night.
Coastal Burwood community board chair Kim Money said her organisation had also asked for a extension on the consultation period but had been turned down by Regenerate Christchurch.
"We did feel that because there was ten options put forward that that really did require more than four weeks [for the consultation period].
"There is a document there of 2000 pages but who in the community is going to be able to sit there and read that."
Regenerate Christchurch, Development Christchurch Ltd and the Christchurch City Council all attended the meeting and provided information about their individual projects, but would not budge on the consultation period.
Any submissions on the projects have to be in next week, with the Red Zone proposals closing Monday 6 November, hot pools Friday 10 November, and Brighton Mall on Sunday 12 November.