Waimakariri business owners call for 'user-friendly' car parks
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Car parking needs to be ‘‘accessible and user-friendly’’, say Rangiora and Kaiapoi business owners.
The Waimakariri District Council is planning to develop parking management plans for the district’s two main town centres over the next 12 to 18 months.
Kaiapoi Promotions Association acting chairperson Martin Pinkham said parking has not been adequately provided for as the town centre has developed.
Pinkham said the situation was ‘‘complicated’’ as the main shopping area was centred on the town’s main access route, Williams St, which had about 15,000 vehicle movements a day.
‘‘People who are a bit older don’t like parking in the main street because they don’t feel safe.’’
He said the car park behind the Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre and Library was often full, while the recent commercial developments to the north of the river were developed without adequate parking.
New subdivisions such as Silverstream and Sovereign Palms were several kilometres from the town centre and there was no viable public transport system to provide connections.
Pinkham suggested a shuttle service could be introduced to support the growth in Kaiapoi and Rangiora.
Rangiora’s town centre also has its challenges, but local business owner Karl Howarth said there were good parking options, for now.
‘‘I don’t think there is a massive issue with parking at the moment,’’ Howarth said.
‘‘But we want to keep a vibrant town centre and we don’t have a viable public transport service, so people are reliant on their cars.’’
He said a parking building needed to be part of the council’s long-term planning.
Speaking at last week’s council meeting, the council’s strategy and programme senior adviser, Heike Downie, said $80,000 had been set aside in the 2024-34 long-term plan to develop the parking management plans.
She said the National Policy Statement for Urban Development removed the requirement for private developers to provide parking, which placed pressure on existing parking supply.
The potential for a parking building in Rangiora was identified in the council’s North of High Street Development Plan, developed following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
Council staff have already held workshops with the Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi and Rangiora-Ashley community boards and planned to engage with local businesses over the next few months.
A community survey was also planned, Downie said.
A Southbrook (Rangiora) development plan is also in the pipeline.
The council also plans to begin conversations with the Oxford-Ohoka and Woodend-Sefton community boards about parking needs.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
-
49.5% Yes
-
48.6% No
-
1.9% Other - I'll share below
Rangiora school pushes for performing arts centre
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A North Canterbury school is pressing on with plans to establish a performing arts centre for the community.
Rangiora High School approached the Waimakariri District Council late last year to asked for help to build a $10-12 million, 800-seat performing arts centre to serve the growing community.
Since then, the school has established a sub-committee to advance the project with input from the council and the wider community.
Board of trustees presiding member Simon Green said the school was keen to work with the council to align with the Waimakariri arts strategy.
‘‘We have one opportunity to get it right, so we want to make sure we create a great community resource.’’
The Waimakariri arts strategy, which was adopted by the council last year, identified a need for additional arts spaces.
A performing arts centre was identified in the school’s master plan, which was developed alongside the Ministry of Education.
It would replace the old school hall, which seats 350 people - barely big enough to seat a single year level at the growing school.
This year’s school roll is 1750 students, including 390 year 9s.
The new facility would have state-of-the-art equipment and would be managed by the school, but available to the 19 contributing schools and local performing arts schools and organisations.
‘‘We are lucky we have lots of space and with any new buildings we need to make sure they are future proofed,’’ Green said.
Acting principal Remihana Emery said a large performing arts centre was badly needed for the Waimakariri district.
‘‘There is a real need out here and what better place for a performing arts centre than our kura.
‘‘It will give people a reason to come back and visit the school and see how much it has changed.
‘‘It is something we hope can get off the ground sooner rather than later.’’
The largest performing arts facilities in the district included the auditoriums in the Rangiora Town Hall and at Kaiapoi High School, which have seating for around 350 people.
Mainpower Stadium can also be retrofitted for concerts.
The lack of size meant local dance schools and drama groups often looked to Christchurch to find a larger venue, Emery said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Here's Thursday's thinker!
I am lighter than air, but a hundred people cannot lift me. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Loading…
