25 Jan 2024

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Highly anticipated work along the estuary edge in Southshore and South New Brighton has reached another milestone.

Final landscape plans, along with a range of technical assessments, are available on Environment Canterbury’s website as part the project’s consent, which has now been lodged.  

“The community has been waiting a long time for this project, so we’re really pleased that we’ve got some tangible progress to report,” Christchurch City Council Red Zone Manager David Little says. 

The plans, along with the consent application, reflect years of work from the Council and the community on how best to address earthquake repairs along the east side of the estuary.  

In 2020, the Council approved a $12.5 million programme of work to mitigate erosion and flooding in Southshore and South New Brighton.  

“As well as being an important piece of infrastructure for flooding and erosion protection, this project enhances the recreation opportunities in the area, with a new three-metre-wide walking and cycling path, new ramps and jetties and a nature play area.  

“We’ve also got extensive coastal native planting planned. We’re keeping as many significant trees and bushes as we can, and we’ve worked closely with the community on this,” Mr Little says.  

“There are some trees that are directly in the way of the estuary edge works, or the bund that will need to be removed. However, for every tree removed, we will be replacing it with two.” 

Environment Canterbury will now assess the consent.  

“Given the complexity of this consent we’re expecting this stage to take at least six months –possibly longer. Realistically, this means we’re still a year away from having any major work start on site. However, we’re doing what we can now, to make sure that we can hit the ground running,” says Mr Little.