Central City Regeneration Lesson Plan

This resource was designed to assist a secondary school geography teacher to conduct a one-hour tour of ’s regenerating central city.

This lesson plan encourages students to think about what locals wanted in their post-quake city centre, what the Crown in particular committed to provide, and what has been/is being delivered.

1 Central Christchurch Regeneration Lesson Plan

Introduction After the February 2017 earthquake, about 80% of CBD buildings had to be demolished (about 1250 buildings). The Share an Idea programme elicited more than 100,000 ideas for the rebuilt city centre.

A word cloud summarised the public feedback. In particular people wanted a greener city, build for people, and with a focus on the Ōtākaro Avon River.

The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan had six aspirations. This resource considers three of the six aspirations: a greener, more compact and more accessible city centre. (If there is sufficient interest, the resource will be further developed to cover the three other goals.)

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Green Compact Accessible Christchurch Building on Christchurch’s There was not enough demand The central city recovery was a Central existing garden city identity, for commercial and retail space chance to improve access for Recovery Plan provide a greener, more to fill the old city centre. The people of all ages and abilities, Concepts attractive city. Future-proof solution was to create a more and for all modes of transport. development through good compact, concentrated core Access is a key to a more vibrant building design and with distinct precincts. city. environmental technologies. Tour Stop 1) Revitalised river corridor as part Ōtākaro/Avon River as a natural The An Accessible City Worcester of Avon River Precinct border on the western side of programme has prioritised Bridge (see - Greener, more attractive river the central city frame different roads for different map) surrounds modes of transport - Improved river habitat - The Terraces – better access to Durham St is a ‘car priority’ street the river (with wide footpath for cycling and walking) Rain gardens and other landscaping on Durham St Tour Stop 2) Promenade rain gardens Precincts as part of compact Avon River Precinct Promenade The Terraces city: - River walk River clean-up - Avon River Precinct - Slow-speed 1-way traffic - 10,000 tonnes of silt - Retail precinct (including the - ‘Flexible use area’ - Riparian plantings to improve compact Farmers Market river habitat about to be developed at the Bridge of Remembrance - Changes to river flow river end of Cashel Mall accessibility (wall behind the - Eel condos built under the memorial has been removed and Terraces (you can feed meat to access improved from the the eels by the right western side) balustrade) Tour Stop 3) Compact precinct Justice and Emergency Services Precinct Tour Stop 4) Mollett Street and Greenway Southern frame of compact Pedestrian and cycle friendly South Frame - Attractive gardens and central city landscaping (green screens) - Catalysing activation - Greener transport options - Place for people Tour Stop 5) Hoyts entertainment complex Copenhagen cycle lanes Colombo St centrally located Tour Stop 6) Greener transport options Centrally located ‘Bus priority’ street around the Bus Interchange Cycle parking in building Tour Stop 7) Widened tree-lined boulevard East Frame of central city Bus priority and wide footpaths Manchester St ‘Bus priority’ and wide footpaths for pedestrians and cyclists New central city neighbourhood East Frame cycleway Rain gardens with 900 homes and large park East Frame Park (Rauora Park) (Rauora Park) Tour Stop 8) Regenerate Christchurch Regenerate Christchurch Regenerate Christchurch Cathedral proposal for native ecosystem proposal for three more proposal for improved access Square area compact spaces. Adjacent Convention Centre and Performing Arts Precincts.

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Tour Route

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