Think Papanui

On Saturday 10 October 2026 there’ll be a book & craft fair at St Paul’s Anglican Church Papanui, with hand-crafted items, crafting materials, books, and more. 10am-2pm in St Paul’s church hall, cash only.

On Monday 14 September 2026, the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board:

• requested further work on the design of Condell Avenue’s street renewal, including the opportunity for tree planting on both sides of the road (see previous post);
• approved parking restrictions for Windermere Road (pic); requested further advice on the layout of the proposed street renewal of Chancellor Street / Julius Terrace;
• approved a street renewal for Stapletons Road;
• approved road layout changes associated with a service station development on Prestons Road;
• approved a ground lease for Kidsfirst Redwood at Redwood Park;
• approved a ground lease for Playcentre Aotearoa at Dunedin Reserve;
• approved a ground lease for Christchurch Budokan Inc at St Albans Park;
• approved a funding application from the St Albans Residents Association;
• and received a report on issues and initiatives within the Community Board area.

The Board will next meet on 12 October. Click through to read the full minutes:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/09/PCBCC_20260914_MIN_11316_AT_WEB.htm

At Monday’s meeting, the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board did not approve a staff recommendation to renew a section of Condell Avenue with trees on one side only.

The Board has instead asked staff to provide further advice on an alternative layout that includes trees on both sides of the road. Think Papanui understands that further consideration of the road layout and tree plantings is unlikely to impact the timing of the street renewal, as works cannot commence while Condell Avenue is being used as a detour due to works on Wairakei Road.

The proposed plan for tree planting on one side only of Condell Avenue is in the news today, with The Press reporting on upset from submitters over this aspect of the street renewal project. The article can be found online, and on page 6 of the paper (also available through the Christchurch City Libraries website). The Community Board is set to make a decision on the proposal at its 14 September meeting.

The Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board will meet on Monday 14 September 2026 in the Papanui boardroom. The agenda includes:

• public participation;
• Condell Ave street renewal, with a staff recommendation to approve a new layout with trees on one side of the street only (pic);
• P5 and No Stopping restrictions for Windermere Road near Dalriada Street;
• street renewal for Chancellor Street and Julius Terrace;
• street renewal for Stapletons Road between North Avon Rd and Randall St;
• road layout changes at 329 Prestons Road to accommodate a new service station;
• a ground lease for Kidsfirst Redwood at Redwood Park;
• a ground lease for Redwood Playcentre at Dunedin Reserve;
• a ground lease for Christchurch Budokan Inc at St Albans Park;
• a funding application from St Albans Residents Association;
• and an area report covering issues and initiatives within the Board area.

The meeting is open for the public to attend, and will be live streamed on the Board’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Click through for the full agenda:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/09/PCBCC_20260914_AGN_11316_AT_WEB.htm

Piling works are due to get underway at the Grassmere Street wastewater storage facility from Wednesday 2 September. Council advises that a rigid inclusion piling system is being installed for the building foundations. This piling system was chosen as the installation process generates lower levels of noise and vibration than other piling methods.

Shared path users: please be mindful of the potential of vehicles crossing the shared path to enter and exit the work site.

For more information on infrastructure projects in the area, including the latest newsletter and works notice, head to:
ccc.govt.nz/papanui3w

The section of Wheels to Wings cycleway being constructed on Harewood Road between the railway line and Matsons Avenue is taking shape. This will provide a link between the Nor’West Arc and Northern Line cycleways.

Other work underway on Harewood Road is for wastewater and water supply upgrades, and all of these works are scheduled to be complete in December 2026.

For more information and updates on Council projects underway in the northwest, see:
https://www.ccc.govt.nz/northwest

On 10 August 2026, the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board:

• received public forum presentations and deputations, including a proposal for a bike skills and pump track and toilets for Rutland Reserve (pic);
• approved parking restrictions for a development off Banks Avenue;
• approved P3 parking outside Casebrook Intermediate School;
• recommended Council approval of new lighting poles in Hagley Park North;
• approved the MacFarlane Park urban forest tree planting plan;
• recommended Council approval of reclassification and disposal of land associated with development in Leander Street;
• approved over half a million dollars in Strengthening Communities funding grants across 37 recipient organisations;
• allocated $27,000 in funding to Community Board projects;
• approved a grant application from Purapura Whetu Trust to support the Phillipstown Community Garden;
• and received an Area Report on issues and initiatives within the Community Board area.

The Board will next meet on Monday 14 September.

Click through to read the full minutes:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2026/08/PCBCC_20260810_MIN_11315_AT_WEB.htm

From 24 August, a two-year construction project to upgrade wastewater pipes along Wairakei Road gets underway. The first stage of works will be between Ilam Road and 165 Wairakei Road (near Aorangi Road), with the road reduced to a single lane citybound.

Detours will be in place for traffic heading away from the city, including for the number 8 (Port to Port) bus route. If you’re in the area, take care for detours and changed traffic conditions.

For more information see this Council Newsline article and the project information page here: www.ccc.govt.nz/northwest.

Christchurch City Council has proposed to keep its boundaries as they are and become a unitary authority under the Government’s Head Start Pathway reform process. As part of the reform, regional councillors will not be re-elected as of 2028, and as a unitary authority the council would absorb Environment Canterbury’s functions.

If the Government accepts the proposal in principle, it would move into a detailed design phase. Detailed design includes a wide range of considerations, including: financial impacts, including rates, debt and transition costs; and representation, wards and the role of community or local boards. Under the Government’s current timetable, this phase is expected to run from October 2026 to March 2027. Cabinet would then consider the detailed proposal and make final decisions in 2027. Legislation would be needed before any new arrangements could take effect.

For more information, including copies of the Council’s proposal and implementation conditions, see the Head Start web page:
https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/headstartpathway