A proposal to turn earthquake damaged red zoned land into recreational areas will have minimal impact on those still living there, the Waimakariri mayor says.
Brent and Shirley Cairns' Kaiapoi home is now surrounded by bare land, after almost all of their neighbours accepted buy out offers from the Government. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Graham
The District Council has released its draft recovery plan for the long-term use of almost 100 hectares of land north of Christchurch.
The proposals include turning the land into playgrounds, farms and a BMX park.
About 30 residents remain in the red zones after declining the Crown's buyout offer following the quakes and will continue to have essential services to their homes maintained.
Mayor David Ayers said the impact on the remaining residents would be minimal.
"We have been working with them for quite some time anyway, so I don't think there will be huge surprises for a lot of them.
"I think the impact on them should be relatively minimal. In Kairaki it won't make much difference at all, in Kaiapoi we are maintaining services and we are trying to make sure they have satisfactory access to their properties."