Funding of $282,000 available that enables people to activate community projects and events in the city’s former residential red zones.
The Red Zones Transitional Use Fund is open to individuals, community organisations and social enterprises to help new projects in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, Southshore, South New Brighton, Brooklands and the Port Hills regeneration areas.
The fund aims to strengthen connections between the regeneration areas and nearby communities, provide recreational opportunities for Christchurch residents, improve the land’s environmental and ecological health, and enable new and innovative ideas to be tested on the land.
People and groups can apply at any time until the Red Zones Transitional Use Fund is fully allocated.
Interested parties can find out more information on the process and the parameters of the funding and fill out an application form online.
Applicants must have a transitional land use approved from Land Information New Zealand before they apply for funding.
Community In The Red Zone
Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan
600 ha of green space running from the city to the coast along the lower Ōtākaro Avon River, the red zone is mostly cleared residential areas as a result of the Christchurch earthquakes.
Over 7500 dwellings were demolished after the Christchurch earthquakes with the people moving to other areas within or outside of the city.
Future of the Red Zone in Christchurch.
There has been considerable consultation over the Red Zone with most wondering why it has taken so long to see changes to what could be the playground of the East.
The Government announced on the 23rd of August 2019 the approval of the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan.
Developed by Regenerate Christchurch, the Plan supports the regeneration of the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, providing a vision and objectives for short, medium and long-term future land uses and opportunities for the 602-hectare area in east Christchurch.
Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Megan Woods, announced the plan’s approval at a special event held in the red zone this morning.
The plan can be viewed here on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website.
Community feedback has resulted in changes being made to the plans for three new pedestrian and cycle bridges across the Ōtākaro Avon River.
The bridges are being built to kick-start the regeneration of the former red-zone corridor along the river and are being funded by a $13.7 million grant from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust.
The colour of the Snell Place bridge, which has been moved about 40 metres so it doesn’t interfere with high-voltage underground power lines, has been changed from white to green so it blends in more with the surrounding environment.
Wooden elements are now to be used where possible, such as on the decorative arches of the bridge, to soften the impact on the environment.
Bridges can’t be made entirely from timber, as it would cost too much and they would need to be rebuilt after about 50 years.
The colour of the new Medway Street bridge has also been changed, from white to a greyish brown.
The Avondale Bridge, which will provide a new connection to land proposed for wetland regeneration, has been changed to include a wooden ramp at both ends.
Mr Winder says all the new bridges and their entry points have been designed to handle very heavy rain and flooding, as well as the impacts of future sea level rise.
Work on constructing the bridges is due to start in early 2021.
