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Christchurch's Draft Recovery Strategy

The draft Recovery Strategy document, released by CERA, sets the direction and priorities for a co-ordinated recovery for greater Christchurch and identifies the essential plans, programmes and initiatives that will contain the relevant detail to implement and achieve the vision set out in the Recovery Strategy. 

Submissions on the contents of the Recovery Strategy close on 30 October 2011. 

Vision and Purpose

The Recovery Strategy is a plan for the recovery of greater Christchurch. Its purpose is to detail a vision, provide direction and list priorities for the reconstruction, rebuilding and long term recovery.

The vision is broadly stated as being the means to “enable greater Christchurch to recover and progress as a place to be proud of – an attractive and vibrant place to live, work, visit and invest for now and generations to come”.

The Recovery Strategy is essentially a plan for planning.  To this end, the Strategy does not contain the detail of what needs to happen in the recovery process. Instead, it offers the proposed vision and a ‘road-map’ for the recovery of Christchurch.  It is an umbrella document which will sit across the top of the more detailed recovery plans and programmes for greater Christchurch, including the Christchurch City Council’s already released (draft) Central City plan.  It is these recovery plans and programmes that will contain the detail for long term recovery.

Recovery Plans & Programmes

The Recovery Strategy identifies the proposed recovery plans as including:

• Land, Building and Infrastructure Recovery Plan
• Economic Recovery Plan
• Education Renewal Recovery Plan
• Finance and Funding Recovery Plan
• Built Heritage Recovery Plan

Land, Building and Infrastructure Recovery Plan

Will set out where, when and how rebuilding can occur.  It will involve developing a spatial plan (by December 2011) and reviewing existing planning documents to determine if they are still relevant.  Early “win” projects will also be identified – these are projects with the potential to improve the wellbeing of Christchurch.

Economic Recovery Plan

Will address how to attract and retain investment in business and Christchurch.  The plan may also include targeted programmes for specific sectors such as tourism.

Education Renewal Recovery Plan

Aims to improve educational outcomes and enable innovative and cost effective provision of education at all levels.

Finance and Funding Recovery Plan

Seeks to optimize public sector investment and to find ways to re-establish private sector investment in Christchurch.

Built Heritage Recovery Plan

Being developed to ensure heritage remains an important part of Christchurch’s identity going forward.

Other Plans

Dedicated work programmes will include:

• The worst affected suburbs programme
• The sports, recreation, arts and culture programme
• The natural environment programme

These documents will sit alongside existing plans and programmes such as the Central City recovery plan and the Christchurch demolition programme. 

Timeframes & Public Participation

Timeframes for putting drafts of these recovery plans and programmes together and what groups and organisations will be involved in their development are set out in the Recovery Strategy.

• Please contact us if you wish to discuss specific issues or the preparation of a submission on the Recovery Strategy. Juliette Derry, j.derry@DuncanCotterill.com