The Star: June 28, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday June 28 2018 17
Opinion
Lobbying for
the East Lake
THE MARCH on Sunday
through Cashel St brought
out a large number of
Cantabrians concerned
about the East Lake’s
Politics
removal from the red zone
Nicky Wagner
plan.
The young, the older
and families highlighted
the cross section of the underway about where a ago, the red zone is our
community supporting lake could go. Sites near generation’s Hagley Park –
this fantastic opportunity Halswell and McLeans the opportunity to provide
for Christchurch.
Island were investigated, a green heart for future
As I said on Sunday, but the red zone gives us generations. So we want
the lake will provide an the chance to move the to make sure we do not
amazing opportunity to lake even closer to our forego any opportunity
have a world class, multiuse
facility in the eastern city centre.
reasons to do so.
neighbourhoods and the without compelling
neighbourhoods and close So it is no surprise that We must continue
to our city centre. It would people are concerned to lobby Regenerate
cater for a wide variety by the project’s removal Christchurch to put the
of water sports and allow from draft plans for the lake back into the draft
for local, national and red zone. The explanation plan and allow a better
international events. From for removal given by assessment of its viability
rowing, kayaking and Regenerate Christchurch to be undertaken.
dragon boating through has been questioned and We are a city of
to paddleboarding and I remain unconvinced by opportunity, and we must
junior yacht racing, as well the answers given.
take every opportunity we
as running, walking and I am realistic enough to are given.
picnicking around the accept when something is •Wagner is a
lake’s edge.
not going to work, but we National list MP for
This project is not just must fully investigate this Christchurch Central
a post-quake idea. Well opportunity before letting and spokeswoman for
before the earthquakes, it be shelved.
Greater Christchurch
discussions were
As I wrote a month Regeneration
Readers respond
to Avon-Otakaro
Network spokesman
Evan Smith’s opinion
piece on the East
Lake being excluded
from Regenerate
Christchurch’s red
zone plan.
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Deborah Thomson -
As someone who lives on
the edge of the red zone,
I certainly don’t want an
East Lake, I have a number
or concerns:
The prevailing wind
makes it a poor international
course; the increase
of bird life on the lake, and
added E-coli would make it
unswimmable; there is an
increased risk of toxic algae
bloom; car parks could
isolate Dallington from
its neighbouring suburbs;
parking in surrounding areas
would be an issue; large
empty carparks would attract
undesirables at night;
the lake would cut New
Brighton Rd in two forcing
traffic through quiet
residential areas; increase
traffic flows on the lower
end of Kerrs Rd (currently
about 30 children live in
that area) bringing parking
and security risks to the
residents; increased traffic
CUT: Dropping the East Lake plan has sparked
widespread debate. ​
over the Gayhurst Bridge,
which traffic engineers
have already confirmed
is poorly designed with
limited sight lines and
narrow turning room; the
amount of water needed
to maintain the lake; the
amount of water pumped
out of the lake; we already
have two international
courses in New Zealand
and since 1950 have held
less than five international
events, how will this lake
change this?
I have watched with interest
the comments on the
East Lake Trust Facebook
page. The majority of the
commentators seem to
come from the older leafy
suburbs.
These are the same
people that lock the doors
of their Audis, Lexuses,
Range Rovers and drive
at high speed through the
gritty east when picking
up their polished children
from Kerrs Reach.
They have no regard for
those of us who live here
and seem to think that
their “want” for a lake
takes precedent of those
who live in the area,
though to them we are just
a bunch of uneducated,
unwashed, criminal oik’s.
I also have to wonder at the
old boys’ network hard at
work behind the scenes,
pulling in favours all
over the place. They even
managed to get very large
posters up in Pak’n’Save
Wainoni.
I’ve never seen them allow
any other lobby group
to put anything up.
•Turn to page 19
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