Council updates  |  16 Jul 2025

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From stormwater management to parking at Parakiore and new zoning rules, here are the key decisions made during today's Christchurch City Council meeting.

Feasibility of free overnight parking at Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre 

Christchurch City Council will investigate providing free overnight car parking at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre for Christchurch Hospital staff working night shifts. 

A Notice of Motion from Mayor Phil Mauger to look into whether providing parking overnight would be feasible was approved at today’s Council meeting. 

It also included looking into the Hospital providing free transport options for staff working night shifts to and from Parakiore.

Staff will engage with the Hospital to assess the feasibility of supporting parking and will report back to the Council. 

New zoning rules approved for historic sites 

New higher-density zoning rules have been approved for two historic sites as part of Christchurch City Council’s decision-making on its Housing and Business Choice Plan Change (Plan Change 14).

The Council today accepted the Independent Hearings Panel’s recommendations to re-zone Antonio Hall (265 Riccarton Road) and Daresbury House (9 Daresbury Lane) as Medium Density Residential.

The decision now means the Minister for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, will decide on the Council’s alternative recommendations to remove the heritage listing for each site. If approved by the Minister, it will allow for higher-density development of the sites, with restrictions for both generally limited to significant trees and, for Daresbury Lane, a 10-metre setback from Waimairi Stream.  

Under Medium Density Residential zoning, up to three dwellings of up to three storeys can be developed on a property, without needing to apply for a resource consent, if all other rules have been met.

A report tabled at today’s Council meeting says both sites would provide opportunities for large residential redevelopment.

The decisions over the sites’ heritage listings were referred to Minister Bishop in December last year as part of the Council’s package of alternative recommendations on Plan Change 14. They were then deferred by the Minister last month pending the outcome of the Council’s zoning decisions. 

Te Pataka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Stormwater Management Plan

A plan aiming to improve stormwater management across Banks Peninsula has been approved by Christchurch City Council.

The Te Pataka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Storm Water Management Plan adopted by the Council at today’s meeting sets out how the Comprehensive Stormwater Network Discharge Consent conditions will be met.   

It also outlines how we can reduce contamination and progressively improve stormwater discharges in the 24 urban settlements of Banks Peninsula.

The catchments on Banks Peninsula are ecologically significant with more than 100 small streams flowing into Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour and Akaroa Harbour. 

While most of the peninsula is rural or conservation land, urban activities in settlements still have an effect on water quality and stream health.