Annual Report 2010 - Christchurch City Council

p42. Annual Report
Christchurch Otautahi
2010
Council activities and
services
City planning and
development
Council activities and services
City planning and development
What is city planning and development and what
does the Council do?
City planning and development involves the preparation of
strategies, plans and policies that guide the future development of
Christchurch. It includes the planning and co-ordination of work
to revitalise the Central City, the regulation of land use through the
District Plan, the protection of our city’s heritage, and initiatives to
use energy more efficiently.
Why is the Council involved in city planning and
development?
City planning and development activities contribute to the
environmental, economic and social well-being of the community
by ensuring that long term plans and strategies are developed and
put in place to shape the form and function of the city in years to
come. These activities also ensure that the city's key resources and
heritage sites are protected.
The Council is also responsible for contributing towards the
achievement of the city’s community outcomes.
City planning and development activities help make Christchurch
a safe city, a city of people who value and protect the natural
environment and an attractive and well-designed city – three of
the nine goals for our city that are included in our Community
Outcomes. This is achieved by ensuring the urban environment
develops in a way which hinders crime, meets people’s needs, is
sustainable and protects natural and physical resources. These
activities also facilitate business while still protecting our heritage.
For more information on these nine goals see the Community
Outcomes section of this report.
How does it affect me?
We all want our city to be well laid-out and offer exciting
opportunities to live, work and play. By protecting our environment
and managing growth, city planning and development helps to
make Christchurch a great place to live.
What activities are involved in city planning and
development?
City and community long–term policy and planning
The Council develops strategies, policies and plans, such as
the Central City Revitalisation Strategy and the Belfast Area
Plan, strategies for the management and enhancement of our
environment and for the Council’s provision of social housing,
and Council’s response to the challenges of climate change.
These set out how the Council intends to work in future, and
guide development across the City and Banks Peninsula. The
effectiveness of these strategies, policies and plans, as well as our
progress as a city towards achieving our community outcomes, is
monitored.
District plan
There are currently two district plans that govern land use within
Christchurch City boundaries. The Christchurch City District Plan
and the Banks Peninsula District Plan set out policies and rules
for land use. Together the District Plans promote sustainable land
use and help the Council implement strategies such as the Greater
Christchurch Urban Development Strategy. There are two ways in
which the District Plans can be changed. The Council can initiate
a plan change or individuals, groups or organisations can request
private plan changes. Processes for both plan change types are set
out in Schedule 1 of the Resources Management Act 1991.
Heritage protection
A city’s heritage helps to sustain a sense of community identity,
provides links to the past, and helps to attract visitors. The Council
is committed to protecting the heritage of our city and works
with developers, landowners and other stakeholders to conserve
heritage buildings, areas and other items.
Energy conservation
We work with community and business groups to reduce the total
amount of energy used and to increase the use of renewable energy.
Expected benefits are reduced costs, fewer adverse environmental
effects (like air pollution), and a sustainable supply of energy for
future generations. The establishment of the Christchurch Agency
for Energy (CAFÉ) will help to further this work in a collaborative
way with partner agencies.