Belfast Area Plan - Urban Design Study - Christchurch City Council

11.2.2. If new development goes ahead to
the south, residents in this sub-area will be
able to access facilities created as part of
the subdivision such as the school, shops
and reserve. The boundary of the S293
area stops short of properties in Darroch
Street, so that vehicular or pedestrian links
will only be possible from Darroch Street if
land in the ownership of others is
developed or acquired by the Council. In
any event, residents of Darroch Street
may be opposed to additional traffic
passing along their street to access the
S293 area. However, access for
pedestrians and cyclists would be
beneficial, particularly to provide a safe
route to the new school.
11.2.3. The timber plant is located in the
Rural 4 (Waimakariri) zone, the purpose of
which is primary production, recreation
and floodplain management. It is likely that
noise and dust from the timber plant is an
issue for residential neighbours. The
development of the northern end of
Rushmoor Drive will bring more residents
in close proximity. Also, the timber
operations are visually incompatible with
the rural scenery of this area close to the
Waimakariri River. The site has been
identified as potentially contaminated and
as prone to flooding. To the south of the
timber yard is an undeveloped parcel of
land. This land is immediately adjacent to
the Darroch Reserve, zoned Rural 4
(Waimakariri) zone and also in an area
prone to flood.
11.2.4. Between the timber yard and the
rear boundaries of properties in Main
North Road is a narrow strip of land zoned
Rural 3. There is a vacant residential
section adjacent to the tavern on Main
North Road (5).
11.2.5. The tavern and the flanking
residential properties mark the entry to the
built-up area of Christchurch, These
properties are not of high visual quality
and therefore the first impression of the
city and Belfast when arriving from the
north is not especially favourable.
Belfast Tavern and adjacent properties
11.3. Recommendations
11.3.1. Opportunities to create a
pedestrian and cyclist link through to the S
293 area from Darroch Street be explored.
11.3.2. Consideration be given to the
future use of the rural zoned land in the
north-west of the sub-area, with a view to
the long term removal of the timber plant
and the use of the land for activities
compatible with the residential and rural
environment. One possibility is to extend
Darroch Reserve right up to Dickeys
Road, so that it meets the boundary of The
Groynes recreation reserve. Any rezoning
should include measures to achieve a
satisfactory rural/urban interface.
11.3.3. Potential for environmental
improvements to the tavern and adjacent
residential properties be investigated,
possibly in conjunction with the
development of the Rural 3 land to the
rear of the these properties.
11.3.4. Consideration will need to be
given to the impact of the Proposed
Western Bypass on this neighbourhood
and appropriate measures taken to ensure
its compatibility when more detailed
feasibility studies are undertaken.
11.2.6. The proposed Western Bypass will
pass to the west of this area and may
need to cross the land occupied by the
sawmill. The road could affect the outlook
from properties on the edge of this subarea
and may cause noise or other
nuisance.
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