The Star: March 23, 2017
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi<br />
Thursday <strong>March</strong> <strong>23</strong> <strong>2017</strong> 13<br />
Viewpoint<br />
Disruption worth it<br />
THE EAST side of the<br />
central city is packed<br />
with rebuild work<br />
these days and, while<br />
progress is good, this<br />
does cause disruptions<br />
for everyone who lives<br />
in, travels through or uses that<br />
part of town.<br />
It can be challenging getting<br />
down Manchester St at the<br />
moment. <strong>The</strong> street is being<br />
transformed into a tree-lined<br />
boulevard as part of the vibrant<br />
and modern vision for our central<br />
city.<br />
<strong>The</strong> frustration some have<br />
felt towards An Accessible City<br />
– the transport chapter of the<br />
Christchurch Central Recovery<br />
Plan – is entirely understandable.<br />
I think some of the concerns<br />
that have been raised are valid.<br />
Still, the current irritations will<br />
be worth it in the end when our<br />
streets have been broadened,<br />
repaved and purpose-built for a<br />
modern, liveable city.<br />
I know the city council and<br />
Otakaro Ltd are listening to the<br />
public’s concerns and I encourage<br />
the public to contact these<br />
agencies if they have<br />
issues with any accessible city<br />
projects.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first section of the shared<br />
Gerry Brownlee<br />
pathway on the western side<br />
between Hereford and Lichfield<br />
Sts is now open and shows us how<br />
Manchester St will look when<br />
finished.<br />
<strong>The</strong> paving work will continue,<br />
followed by the planting of new<br />
trees and then a priority route<br />
for public transport will be<br />
added.<br />
Tucked away behind the fences<br />
and cones, initial earthworks are<br />
under way on the first East Frame<br />
superlot, with construction work<br />
on the 2800 sq m site, near the<br />
Canterbury Club, starting next<br />
month.<br />
<strong>The</strong> East Frame will include<br />
900 townhouses and apartments,<br />
bringing more residents to the<br />
regenerating city centre.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se significant projects are<br />
going on in a relatively small<br />
space, so I encourage everyone to<br />
keep supporting the businesses in<br />
the area, grab a coffee and wander<br />
down the new pathway.<br />
•Gerry Brownlee is<br />
Minister supporting Greater<br />
Christchurch Regeneration<br />
Readers respond to<br />
news that the intersection<br />
of Ilam, Middleton and<br />
Riccarton Rds, which was<br />
ranked as the city’s second<br />
most dangerous, will be<br />
upgraded in 2019<br />
Russell Vaughan,<br />
Redwood – I travelled for 30<br />
years until 2004 through this<br />
intersection and during some of<br />
that time there were no lights.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were many chances,<br />
which I lobbied the city council<br />
over, to change the approaches<br />
by cutting back the opposing<br />
corners on Middleton Rd and<br />
Ilam Rd, thus creating better<br />
visibility and road markings for<br />
traffic turning right onto Riccarton<br />
Rd.<br />
After the earthquakes, there<br />
was a chance to cut back on the<br />
veterinary clinic side of Ilam Rd.<br />
No meaningful changes were<br />
ever made. Now the costs are<br />
said to be $1 million, and nothing<br />
done until 2019.<br />
<strong>The</strong> confusion over right-hand<br />
turning traffic swinging across<br />
each other, and pedestrians,<br />
cyclists and vehicles competing<br />
for priority, continues to plague<br />
this intersection. It’s arguably<br />
the most confusing intersection<br />
in Christchurch.<br />
Jan Nolan, Upper<br />
Riccarton – I don’t think $1<br />
million needs to be spent on this<br />
TRICKY: A car on Riccarton Rd breaks to avoid a car turning into<br />
Ilam Rd. <strong>The</strong> intersection is ranked as the city’s second most<br />
dangerous.<br />
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN<br />
intersection. Just put dedicated<br />
right turning arrows from Ilam<br />
Rd and Middleton Rd into<br />
Riccarton Rd. All fixed.<br />
Annie McConnochie,<br />
Upper Riccarton, responds<br />
to a joint transport<br />
committee report on the<br />
need to improve public<br />
transport uptake in greater<br />
Christchurch over the<br />
coming decades<br />
It could be an interesting<br />
idea to look into suggesting or<br />
requesting those Government<br />
staffers and council members to<br />
consider taking the bus one day<br />
a week.<br />
This would be to ease traffic<br />
congestion, and also to set a<br />
good example and to check out<br />
suggestions bus drivers have to<br />
offer in regard to intersections<br />
where it could help to have<br />
a green right-turn arrow –<br />
mainly at very busy intersections<br />
– so they are not compelled to<br />
run the red light to carry on and<br />
keep to their time schedule and<br />
so on.<br />
SMALL CHANGE<br />
MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE<br />
Twice a year we clear the Community Fund collection boxes at<br />
Christchurch Airport and share the money across the community.<br />
Kiwi dollars, international currency, small change from your cup<br />
of coffee, plus a top-up donation from us, all add up for local<br />
charities and community projects.<br />
180 Degrees Trust uses outdoor adventures to inspire<br />
and teach life skills to vulnerable Canterbury youth, to<br />
develop self-awareness, confidence and decision making<br />
skills and so initiate a turnaround in young people’s lives.<br />
Christchurch Airport proudly supports the 180 Degrees<br />
Trust through the Community Fund.<br />
Charities and community groups<br />
can apply for funds at<br />
christchurchairport.co.nz/communityfund