Think Papanui’s curator Simon Britten rounds up stories from the past week:
Firstly, a correction to last week’s recap – as I alluded to in my YouTube video, there was a late entry for top post of last week – the news that the partly constructed QEII Drive overpass is to be deconstructed and rebuilt. Our Community Board recently asked the Council to investigate delaying the opening of the southern end of the Christchurch Northern Corridor. While the NZTA assures us that the project remains on schedule, could this be the first sign that mother nature is going to respond to the Community Board’s call?
The Council is consulting on an area speed management plan for roads just east of Papanui Ward – in Marshland, Spencerville & Kainga. The proposal is open for feedback until 2 July.
A new Catholic church is set to be built at the St Joseph’s site at the corner of Main North Road and Vagues Road, as part of a proposal that would amalgamate the current Mairehau, Burnside, and Papanui Parishes.
The Nor’West News carried an article on Papanui Ward candidates in the upcoming local body election. (Yes, I am one of the candidates, but I will keep Think Papanui apolitical and neutral, and will be promoting myself through my own social media & other channels.)
I posted a summary of the agenda for the 14 June meeting of the Waipapa/Papanui-Innes Community Board.
On Tuesday 11 June the Redwood Business and Residents Group held a meeting at the Christchurch Function Centre. Redwood falls within Papanui Ward and community activity in the area is of interest to Think Papanui.
I shared a photo taken in St James Park after the heavy rain over Queen’s Birthday weekend. There has been a call for repairs or an upgrade to St James Park’s gravel paths – I would welcome your feedback as a comment on Think Papanui’s Facebook or Instagram posts, or by email.
The back half of the week has mostly been about the Council’s consideration of the plan to manage downstream effects of the Christchurch Northern Corridor. Collectively, this coverage was top post of the week. Think Papanui’s coverage included:
- A post linking to the Council’s meeting agenda, to the live stream of the meeting, and to the pre-meeting ‘peaceful rebellion against the DEMP’ event,
- A Facebook live video of the interactive installation protesting the impacts of the CNC,
- A photo illustrating wider media interest generated by the protest, and
- News of the Council’s decision, which was (in brief, click through for details): to approve traffic mitigation works but also push harder for additional Travel Demand Management to reduce single-occupancy vehicle traffic in the area downstream of the motorway.
I attended the protest and the start of the meeting, but due to work commitments was unable to stay. Thanks to the Council’s live stream service, I was able to catch parts of the debate online, and then watch the full discussion via the video archive.
Feedback is always welcome on Think Papanui’s content, either on Facebook or Instagram, or directly to me.
With warm regards
Simon Britten
