Bridge Repair a Labour of Love
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christchurch our Christchurch City Council news, events and information Winter 2013 Bridge repair a labour of love The Bridge of Remembrance means a lot from a heritage and repairs are under way, and cultural perspective as well as an renowned sculptor and aesthetic view.” stonemason Mark Whyte, Mark Whyte has a long-standing overseeing the project, tells connection with heritage work us why this is a work in Christchurch. He has just completed restoration work worth doing. on the Bonnington’s Chemist Mark Whyte is a stonemason with building on High Street, which a reputation for attention to detail, is the only surviving Venetian so when it comes to the Bridge of Gothic Revival commercial stone Remembrance, there is no-one building in the city. better to restore the national And a stone’s throw from the memorial to its former glory. Bridge of Remembrance is the The earthquakes of 2010/2011 left sculpture of New Zealand soldier the Bridge and Arch fenced off Sergeant Henry Nicolas, the World due to safety issues and in need War I Victoria Cross and Military of extensive repairs but in the past Medal recipient. few weeks, things have started to Mr Whyte was commissioned happen. SCIRT contractors to create the sculpture by the are now onsite and repairs Canterbury District Returned and have begun. Services Association in 2007, and And this is no ordinary rebuild, throughout the work, he was as Mr Whyte points out. conscious of capturing the spirit of the fact that Sergeant Nicolas did “The Bridge of Remembrance is not return to New Zealand, being one of the most important sites killed in action in 1918. in Christchurch, arguably the most important stone structure “I created that sculpture to look as in Canterbury today, because it’s if he jumped up on to the base, is a memorial that symbolises the standing at an angle facing the sacrifices and loss of many of Bridge of Remembrance, standing Christchurch's citizens. there fists clenched looking as if he’s angry because of the “I would also say that the site is loss of life that had happened, even more culturally important and because he never returned. now because it’s a focal point in ‘Remembrance’ of those lost is an area that doesn’t have many what the bridge represents.” Stonemason Mark Whyte says, "I want to ensure the bridge is restored to a state buildings around it. Restoring fitting the memory of those it represents, and those who visit it to remember." the Bridge of Remembrance Story continues on page 2 Photo: Pam Johnson Facilities Rebuild update Meet the Consents team Holiday fun for the kids www.ccc.govt.nz Contents 3 Facilities rebuild update Progress amid the challenges 4 Help shape alcohol policy As a city we continue to face new challenges support and their recently increased financial every day – from paying for the rebuild to contribution to the rebuild. 5 Team focus on consents sorting out insurance issues while getting on Meanwhile, we are concentrating on getting our with our daily lives. 6 CERA latest underground pipes and roading infrastructure Establishing a sound financial footing for the fixed and breathing fresh life into the severely 7 Suburban Centres progress city’s future, and keeping things as affordable damaged suburban centres with a programme as possible for ratepayers, is foremost in all of of community-driven redevelopment master 8 Your Council our minds. plans as we make this city a stronger, more sustainable and better place to live. OurChristchurch is your source for Among the challenges we face, there are many Christchurch City Council news, positive things happening in the city that bode Just as spring follows winter, rest assured we’re information and events. It is published well for our future as well as our children’s. well on our way towards creating a vibrant city quarterly and delivered directly to that’s one of the best and safest places in the Our economy is booming, unemployment Christchurch homes. We welcome your world to live and work. is falling and there are signs of progress feedback, please email or post your everywhere you look, even if we are seeing comments to: orange road cones more often than we’d like. [email protected] Check us There are thousands of people and Our Christchurch out on organisations right across the world supporting Communications Unit Facebook us and wanting to see Christchurch back and Christchurch City Council better than ever. Hundreds more people are PO Box 73014 working day in and day out to bring about the Christchurch 8154 bright future we so deserve, after everything we’ve been through. Christchurch City Council online: The Government is playing its role in some of Bob Parker www.ccc.govt.nz the big issues – the anchor projects, EQC and insurance issues. We appreciate their ongoing Mayor facebook.com/ChristchurchCityCouncil @ChristchurchCC Bridge repair a labour of love (continued) Working on a site that holds so much “If I’m honest, I’m probably the most pedantic Bridge Facts: significance for people means the work is stonemason and sculptor in the country. I want delicate and considered. Damage and cracks, to ensure the bridge is restored to a state fitting 1. Built in 1923, it is dedicated to those seen and unseen, mean the evaluation of the the memory of those it represents, and those who died in World War I, and serves as a work is a very involved and careful process, who visit it to remember.” memorial for those who participated in and will take time. The Council’s Transport and Greenspace Unit two World Wars as well as subsequent Mr Whyte says, “There is damage to the stone Manager John Mackie says, “Having a skilled conflicts with New Zealand armed forces work on the outside and its removal and repair craftsman of Mark's calibre should serve as involvement. is a painstaking process. We need to carefully great reassurance to the people of Christchurch repair and store all these pieces until the jigsaw, and New Zealand that the restoration is in the 2. Tools used by the original stonemason if you will, is ready to go back together. best hands possible.” Frederick George Gurnsey have been “Once the external repair work is started, we It is expected the work will be completed by given to Mark Whyte, the stonemason need to examine the internal structure, both April 2015. appointed for the repair work. above and below ground. The Council understands it is important 3. On 2 April 1985, the Bridge of “What we do now has to stand up to the the community is able to mark the 100-year Remembrance was registered as a earthquakes of the future. So although we may anniversary of the beginning of World War I in Category One heritage structure with perceive this as taking a long time, that just August 2014 and will work with contractors to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. has to happen. It’s unfortunate, but it’s just a have parts of the bridge open in some form for fact of life.” an event. 4. The bridge Arch is carved from Footnote: Mark Whyte is a partner in Goldfield Stone Ltd, stone and Tasmanian Sandstone. Mr Whyte is adamant the Bridge of brick building restorations specialists, and has been contracted by Remembrance will be restored to its SCIRT for the repair of the sculpture and stone work on the Bridge 5. The Arch's central frame includes the former glory. of Remembrance. inscription Quid non pro patria – “What will a man not do for his country”. 2 our christchurch Winter 2013 Convenience makes new library a hit with Alina Alina Addison and her family are thrilled to have a modern new library and service centre in their neighbourhood. Since the new temporary Linwood Library and Service Centre at Eastgate Shopping Centre opened at the end of April, Alina has been visiting at least once a week to pick up items she and her family have put on hold online. She says it’s convenient to be able to pick up books and DVDs at the library and visit the supermarket in the shopping centre at the same time. Alina is a loyal customer – she visited the Linwood Library in Cranley Street before its closure due to earthquake damage, and was also a regular visitor to the temporary Linwood Mini Library in Smith Street. “I like being recognised by the library staff and having a chat about life. It’s a really friendly environment,” Alina says. Alina and her family are among more than 21,000 people who visited the library in the first three weeks after it opened – an average of 1000 customers a day. The customer service centre has also been busy, processing 550 transactions during this period. Opening Linwood Library and Service Centre is part of the Council’s commitment to restoring key community services post-earthquake. General Manager Community Services Michael Aitken says the Council recognises the impact of the loss of key community facilities on residents. As part of its Facilities Rebuild Programme, the Council is opening temporary facilities while work continues on more permanent solutions. With engineering assessments now complete on most of its non- Frequent visitors: Alina Addison with children Nanette, left, and Sara residential facilities, the Council is also putting even more energy into at the new temporary Linwood Library. Alina says she finds the library a really repairing and reopening closed facilities. friendly environment. Photo: Pam Johnson “We are aware that residents want more clarity about the future of the facilities that are important to them.