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From reporter Steven Walton:
A $78 million government grant to improve Christchurch's “unreliable” bus service will only cover about one-third the project's total cost.
Local councils and Waka Kotahi will cover the remaining $160m to ensure buses arrive every 7.5 minutes on key… View moreFrom reporter Steven Walton:
A $78 million government grant to improve Christchurch's “unreliable” bus service will only cover about one-third the project's total cost.
Local councils and Waka Kotahi will cover the remaining $160m to ensure buses arrive every 7.5 minutes on key routes.
The Government money is coming out of the budget of the ditched $785m cycling and walking bridge planned for the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
A major revamp of the Christchurch bus network was first revealed in late 2020, but the time frame for the work was going to be about 12 years. The Government contribution, announced on Friday, would allow the revamp to happen within five to six years.
“This will offer people living in Christchurch regular and much more reliable bus services,” Transport Minister Michael Wood said.
Amongst the planned improvements are 100 extra buses, 22km of new bus lanes, and more than 470 new bus shelters. Some of the work has already begun, like adding bus lanes to Lincoln Rd.
The 100 new buses are being introduced despite recent struggles nationwide with a driver shortage. The shortage has caused thousands of bus trips being cancelled in Christchurch in recent months, frustrating commuters.
Wood said there had been “good progress” with the driver shortage in Christchurch. The shortage was now only 49 drivers, he said.
The 2020 business case for the city’s bus revamp said buses were unreliable and not as quick as taking a car.
It also estimated the revamp’s infrastructure (capital) work would cost about $115m, but Wood confirmed that number had now risen.
He said the revamp’s total cost would be $238m, but this figure also included the operational costs of running new buses and paying the new drivers. He was not able to say how much of the $238m cost was capital costs and how much was operational costs.
Of the $238m, the Government is covering $78m of it directly and the remaining $160m will be split between local councils and Waka Kotahi. Waka Kotahi and councils in Christchurch have already planned to spend millions on the revamp, but it is not clear how much each party will end up spending. Wood’s office has been asked to provide this detail.
Mayor Phil Mauger said it was great to be at the Government’s funding announcement on Friday, even though he voted against the revamp’s business case in 2020.
Asked if he would still vote against it, he said “probably not” because he had “learnt a lot more about how buses will make a difference [with reducing emissions]”.
Buses were a “good thing” that would help the climate change situation, he said.
Mauger said he also supported the 22km of new bus lanes, “as long as they’re in the right place”. Narrow roads should not be made narrower, he said.
“It’s all very well to have bus lanes everywhere, but if no-one else can get along [the road] everyone's going to get all snarly and upset.”
As part of the revamp, Christchurch’s main bus routes will have dedicated bus lanes with traffic lights that give buses priority.
The city’s main bus routes are Rangiora to Cashmere (#1), Airport to Sumner (#3), Rolleston to New Brighton (#5) and Halswell to Queenspark (#7). All of these services go into the central city and stop at the bus interchange.
The fifth main route is The Orbiter, which does a circular route.
The revamp aims to convert the main routes to “turn-up-and-go” services, where a bus would arrive every 7.5 minutes between 7am and 7pm on weekdays.
Presently, these routes only have a 10 or 15-minute frequency.
The business case for the revamp said 14 million trips were taken on Christchurch buses in 2018, and it hoped to increase this to 20 million by 2028.
Know the friendliest barista around? Does your mechanic always go the extra mile? Got a lawn-mowing legend? Hairdresser hero?
Give your favourite local business the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2023 Prospa Local Business Hero awards.
There's been hundreds of … View moreKnow the friendliest barista around? Does your mechanic always go the extra mile? Got a lawn-mowing legend? Hairdresser hero?
Give your favourite local business the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2023 Prospa Local Business Hero awards.
There's been hundreds of incredible entries already but don't forget to nominate your local this week. The recognition will make their day (and they're in with a chance to win a $10,000 package!).
Share a few words about your favourite local now.
Your home is your sanctuary, and that’s why Ryman villages are designed to be safe havens.
We’ve prepared for adverse events, so you don’t have to.
Your safety and your family’s peace of mind are our priority. Every Ryman village has staff available 24/7 and backup generators for … View moreYour home is your sanctuary, and that’s why Ryman villages are designed to be safe havens.
We’ve prepared for adverse events, so you don’t have to.
Your safety and your family’s peace of mind are our priority. Every Ryman village has staff available 24/7 and backup generators for emergencies. If something happens, you’re in safe hands.
We’ll take care of everything and make sure that you have what you need.
If you or a loved one are over 70, Ryman has a range of options from emergency accommodation through to townhouses or apartments available to purchase.
Have been taken out by professionals an replacing them with bigger heat pumps
This insuier78Come out of a house that was on fire but stil good for reuse , these are mammoth brand with rating of 4.0
Will deliver must be assp
Internet is something we need these days for work, study, keeping in touch with loved ones or just to watch a movie! It's another bill to manage right?!
With the cost of living rising, we want to know how much your broadband bill is setting you back each month?
Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive jerusalem artichoke recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by March 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the May issue of NZ … View moreEvery month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive jerusalem artichoke recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by March 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the May issue of NZ Gardener.
If you want to have a say in the development of Christchurch then this is your chance. There are several ways to do this :
1. Go to the website www.greaterchristchurch.org.nz... and take part in the online survey huihuimai.nz...
2. Take part in one of the workshops. You can still register … View moreIf you want to have a say in the development of Christchurch then this is your chance. There are several ways to do this :
1. Go to the website www.greaterchristchurch.org.nz... and take part in the online survey huihuimai.nz...
2. Take part in one of the workshops. You can still register for the Rangiora session www.eventbrite.com...
MONTHLY AEA WEB EVENTS
The AEA Web Event is a monthly online meeting where AEA members from all over the world come together to share their experience, strength and hope. Three members speak for 10 minutes each, followed by member sharing.
The AEA Web Event is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month… View moreMONTHLY AEA WEB EVENTS
The AEA Web Event is a monthly online meeting where AEA members from all over the world come together to share their experience, strength and hope. Three members speak for 10 minutes each, followed by member sharing.
The AEA Web Event is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month which is this Sunday 19 March at 9.00am.
ALL NEWCOMERS WELCOME
WANTED
Person to illustrate a series of children’s books.
Could be an experienced illustrator or a young person starting up. The books have a gentle eco friendly/sustainability background and are really funny . Illustrations need a point of difference and be quite quirky. Books are aimed at an … View moreWANTED
Person to illustrate a series of children’s books.
Could be an experienced illustrator or a young person starting up. The books have a gentle eco friendly/sustainability background and are really funny . Illustrations need a point of difference and be quite quirky. Books are aimed at an audience 6 to 10 years. Ideally the illustrator lives in Christchurch or at least in Canterbury
For further info and to discuss ring Brian K on 021 229 2260
From reporter Tina Law:
A newly-built boat shed platform in coastal Christchurch is sitting unfinished after rust was discovered.
The issue has forced a temporary redesign of Christchurch’s long-awaited coastal pathway, which will go largely around the Moncks Bay platform until a resolution… View moreFrom reporter Tina Law:
A newly-built boat shed platform in coastal Christchurch is sitting unfinished after rust was discovered.
The issue has forced a temporary redesign of Christchurch’s long-awaited coastal pathway, which will go largely around the Moncks Bay platform until a resolution is found.
About 40 metresof the last section of the pathway, linking Ferrymead and Scarborough Beach, was supposed to traverse the boat shed platform, which is being built by the Christchurch Yacht Club.
Christchurch City Council gave the club $239,713 towards the project, on the condition the club guaranteed public access.
But the platform, which will eventually have the boat shed erected on top of it, cannot yet be used for the pathway, after rust was discovered on parts of it.
The platform, which sits just north of the club and replaces a boat shed that collapsed during the 2011 earthquakes, was built in 2018.
Christchurch Yacht Club commodore Sean Thomson said the club was “working through the issues” with its contractor and lawyers.
He was not able to say when the issue would be resolved.
Thomson said the platform was supposed to have a long life, but rust had been discovered on the ramps and in some other areas.
It was still intended that the platform would form part of the pathway, he said.
In the meantime, the council has developed “a work-around solution”, head of transport Lynette Ellis said.
She would not say what the solution was, but Christchurch Coastal Pathway Group chairman Hanno Sander said the pathway would go around the platform.
The path was supposed to be 4m wide across the platform, but would temporarily reduce to about 2m wide.
Sander said the issue was one of many that ended up forming part of the design process, including working around nesting penguins.
Ellis said the construction programmes for the platform and pathway did not align.
The issue came to light during the detailed design process, she said.
“We still anticipate utilising the platform in the future.”
When asked if the “workaround” had cost the project money, Ellis said any additional costs would be covered within the existing budget.
She said the final section of the pathway would still open to the public in early 2024. Work started in November 2021.
The Moncks Bay section was being built with $15.8m of the Government’s “shovel-ready” funding. The council was funding the additional $1.5m.
Part of the final section, from the former tram stop to the Christchurch Yacht Club, will open on Friday, but the remaining part would take longer.
It had to be cantilevered out over the Avon-Heathcote Estuary because the road space was limited in some areas.
We're all mostly familiar with Kate Sheppard's role in the women's suffrage movement (and her face on the $10 note) and you've likely heard of the bold, Jean Batten. But who else should not be forgotten? Tell us why!
Let's celebrate Women's History month as well as … View moreWe're all mostly familiar with Kate Sheppard's role in the women's suffrage movement (and her face on the $10 note) and you've likely heard of the bold, Jean Batten. But who else should not be forgotten? Tell us why!
Let's celebrate Women's History month as well as International Women's Day (this Wednesday) by sharing some of the lesser-known, inspiring women who've played a part in New Zealand's history.
Share your thoughts below for the We Say You Say column of the local paper - write NFP if you wish your comments to be excluded.
Refresh your outdoor spaces with Resene Lumbersider and Resene Walk-on with these easy ideas.
Hi everyone
Whether you’re looking for a good book, or some winter warmers we have it all ready for you. $1, $2 and clearance racks are restocked, plus we have 25% off shoes this weekend.
Pop in over the weekend, open 7 days.
Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 10.00am … View moreHi everyone
Whether you’re looking for a good book, or some winter warmers we have it all ready for you. $1, $2 and clearance racks are restocked, plus we have 25% off shoes this weekend.
Pop in over the weekend, open 7 days.
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683 Ferry Road, behind Domino’s.
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Get 20% off Resene premium paints, stains, wallpapers and accessories, on now at Resene ColorShops!
Come in and visit your local Resene ColorShop for expert advice and great savings!
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