Active Authentic Christchurch Centre

I've been highly critical of the planning that led to the Christchurch we know was built before the earthquake. And I was also critical of some of the planning for the CBD post-earthquake.

In particular I could not believe the institutional silence around previous earthquakes that knocked the Cathedral spire down. However. Now that we are where we are, I now believe that New Zealand has a duty to protect as much as possible of the Cathedral from further demolition and from future earthquakes.

The rhetoric is compelling: the city is Christ Church, the centre of Christ Church is Cathedral Square, Christ Church is internationally known as the Cathedral City. There is massive value and history attached to this place and the icon that is the iconic church at the centre.

There are famous cathedrals and churches in Cologne, Coventry and Kobe - still standing, or rebuilt, iconic heritage, memories enshrined. Proudly. At a cost. A heritage cost. An investment.

Canterbury Cathedral has similar status for New Zealand now. Yes it is vulnerable and the Church of England can't pay the amount needed to protect it. But it is essential for the future of Christchurch that the church that remains - remain standing. It is precious for the economic future of Christchurch, as it is for the city's cultural future and its heritage. What better place to remember where the city came from, and to remember the earthquake itself. This has to be a Government responsibility and priority.

Which brings me to the 4 Avenues area of the old central business district. What to do, now that 800 or so buildings have been or are being demolished. I read the Listener magazine piece by Bob Jones, and agree with amalgamation of sites idea. Not sure about a lot of water spaces in there.

But it is clear that the market will not rush into building commercial buildings now in this part of Christchurch. A lot of money has already gone - to Auckland and other parts of New Zealand - and many businesses have relocated to other commercial hubs in other parts of Christchurch where there is some critical mass, and where there is infrastructure they can connect into.

I did entertain the idea of relocating Jade Stadium and QEII into the central business area. I was thinking, well, if both of these amenities are to be built, why not locate them in the centre - given all the available land. (I don't think it is appropriate to rebuild QEII at Burwood. This land is too compromised.)

But. Stadiums are very expensive things as we know, and we look at what's happening in Dunedin right now. The Super 15 games that have been playing in the Christchurch temporary rugby facility have had a great buzz about them. Recessions are not good times to rebuild the sort of stadium that Jade was - ie very big - very imposing, takes up a lot of space, and hardly gets used. Doesn't do a lot to activate an urban environment either.

But that's not the same with a multi-purpose athletic and swimming facility. It can integrate much better into an urban fabric, and be used as an anchor for a different sort of Christchurch centre....

I see Christchurch as the centre of a remarkable industry that is New Zealand's own. It's the outdoor pursuit, physical fitness, extreme sport capital of the world. It also offers the best place to chill, get organised, and equipped, for all those fantastic activitities that New Zealand is increasingly known for in Australia and further afield: Great Walks, cycling expeditions, mountaineering, ski-ing, tri-athlons, elite sport events, canoe-events, rafting...

The South Island has other centres, but they are constrained in their accommodation offerings, and do not offer the space that Christchurch now has to be the active life-style support city for the South Island.

Christchurch needs to be able live this lifestyle itself. Putting an upgraded QEII facility in the centre provides a new magnet, and new organising force for transport: cycling becomes much more dominant and rational. So does the related infrastructure. So does walking. And the sorts of businesses that would co-locate will be tourism, event and support services - event management, clothing, gear, and even manufacturers that specialise in elite sport equipment.

Well. That's what I think aanyway.