The Star: April 27, 2017

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
Thursday April 27 2017 11
Viewpoint
East Frame work begins
I AM pleased to say
there is physical work
happening on all
committed Crown-led
projects in central
Christchurch.
Fletcher Living held
a ground-breaking ceremony at
the site last week, signalling the
start of construction on the East
Frame residential development.
Construction of the first batch
of new central city homes is officially
under way on what’s known
as Superlot 4, on the corner of
Hereford St and Latimer Square.
Crown company Ōtākaro Ltd
and Fletcher Living have been
working together on plans to create
a new central city community.
Alongside construction of the
new dwellings, Ōtākaro – which
is delivering the Crown-led anchor
projects for Christchurch –
is overseeing the construction of
the East Frame’s public realm.
This will be the third-largest
public space in Christchurch and
it’s expected to be completed by
early next year.
The biggest challenge has been
getting the mixture of housing
right. Because we are creating a
new community, homes need to
be available in a range of styles
and sizes. We want to attract as
many people as possible into this
development, so we’ve taken the
time to make sure we’ve got this
right.
Gerry Brownlee
By putting more effort into
the planning and design of the
East Frame, Ōtākaro and Fletcher
Living should be more prepared
for the construction stage of the
development.
In spite of the extra time spent
planning, the first 20 terraced
houses in the East Frame residential
development will be completed
in May 2018 – five months
ahead of the original schedule.
The East Frame will consist of
about 900 homes, with a combination
of terraced homes and
apartments. These are expected to
house more than 2000 people.
The future residents will have
everything at their doorstep. As
well as the first-class amenities,
GROUND-BREAKING:
Fletcher Building residential
and land development chief
executive Steve Evans and
Ōtākaro’s Albert Brantley.
Christchurch’s regenerating city
offers a great range of new cafes,
bars, restaurants and shops.
The East Frame homes will
flank the East Frame public
space. This is a 660m linear park
that runs through the five blocks
from Litchfield St to the Margaret
Mahy Family Playground.
Construction of the East
Frame residential development
marks an important milestone in
the rejuvenation of our city. This
fantastic new community will
attract people back into the heart
of Christchurch.
•Gerry Brownlee is
Minister supporting Greater
Christchurch Regeneration
Remembering the
lives cut short by war
THIS Anzac week
we have taken the
opportunity to
reflect on the service
of thousands of men
and women who
have – and still do – dedicate
their lives to their country.
I had the privilege of attending
four ceremonies across Wigram
on Tuesday. Each service was
moving, poignant and different.
This is how it should be – communities
finding their own
unique way to remember their
pasts.
At dawn in Upper Riccarton,
an increasing number of people
each year gather in the War
Memorial Library. This small
library is run by a small but
dedicated team of volunteers.
It was at this service that I witnessed
the birth of a new Anzac
tradition – a cupcake replete
with edible poppy.
At the Hornby War Memorial,
many of the names are familiar
Hornby names. I always find it
especially poignant hearing the
local school children read out
short biographies of the names
on the memorial. This really
brings it home that these were
young men who made their
hopes and their dreams in this
same local area; who walked on
the same ground, but had their
lives cut short by war.
Another unique ceremony we
have is the service for residents
of Rannerdale Veterans Village
and their families. This ceremony
is touching in that so many
of the attendees know the lived
reality of war. The highlight this
year was that the Rannerdale
Choir debuted their Rannerdale
Song.
My day finished at the Air
Force Museum of New Zealand,
Wigram, where about a thousand
people gathered. Many of
those who attended once called
the airforce base home, and they
now mix with the more recent
recruits to the neighbourhood
from what we now call Wigram
Skies. The museum is a living
memorial to people who
have served in the Royal New
Zealand Air Force. This was
underscored by the unveiling of
an additional plaque bearing the
names of personnel who had lost
their lives serving in the airforce
in the last two years.
•Megan Woods is Labour’s
Canterbury spokeswoman
PROBLEM: The Ministry of Health shut down a plan for a
700-space car park near Christchurch Hospital two years ago.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
Last week The Star
reported that the Ministry
of Health shut down a
plan two years ago for a
700-space car park near
Christchurch Hospital
because it decided there
was not enough demand
for it
Alison Paulsen – Is it
possible to select people with a
modicum of intelligence for these
positions? If malls, bars, etc have
to have car parks, a hospital dealing
with hundreds of people on a
24/7 basis should make parking
a priority.
Gary Fox – There’s people
screaming out for car parks at
the hospital. They have done so
for quite a while now. How is
there no demand, really? I still
think the best option is to move
the hospital to a larger site to
allow for more parking. I don’t
think it’s too late to do this and
sell the current site, as is, to a
hotel chain. The surrounding
Hagley Park would ensure quite a
nice price could be achieved.
•More rise up comments,
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