Bay Harbour: July 21, 2021

Bay Harbour News Wednesday July 21 2021
6
NEWS
• From page 5
“There’s not really any accommodation
in Lyttelton other than
the hotel at Governors Bay,” he
said.
As a result he said, many Lyttelton
residents are choosing to
move out that weekend and rent
out their homes
via services such
as Air BnB.
They are also
marking up the
prices.
“The economic
situation that
will result from
the event will
be fantastic,”
Fawkner said.
A ChristchurchNZ spokesperson
said the estimated visitor
spend is $3 million.
“The influx of visitors watching
the event is expected to generate
significant revenue for hospitality
businesses throughout the bays,
while the worldwide exposure of
the beauty and hospitality of the
region is expected to raise its profile
in positive ways,” they said.
However, they would not
confirm the investment
ChristchurchNZ has put into the
event.
Little Ship Club president and
Yachting New Zealand director
Victoria Moore is part of a
SailGP “legacy and leverage”
group, discussing the impact
of the event on the community
with the city council and event
organisers.
“A lot of work is going on
behind the scenes to ensure the
event runs smoothly, as well
as disruptions to residents are
minimised as much as possible,
especially in terms of traffic
management,” she said.
Moore said there have been
discussions of including a bus
ride in the event ticket price
and there being other incentives
offered so people choose not to
drive to Lyttelton.
In terms of Lyttelton needing
a “tidy up,” Moore said there is
only so much that could be done
in the limited amount of time
they have, hence priorities such
as work at the $4 million upgrade
at Naval Point, which began at
the end of June.
The upgrade includes replacing
an ageing water main, upgrading
utilities and making foreshore
improvements, a city council
spokesperson said.
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
ASTHETICS: Some Lyttelton residents are worried about the look of their port – with
empty plots of land and abandoned buildings, such as The Mitre (above right).
PHOTOS: SAMANTHA MYTHEN
Worldwide exposure for port
Charlie
Fawkner
Moore is positive the event
is an incredible opportunity to
showcase Christchurch to the
world.
SailGP is expected to attract a
televised audience of an estimated
250 million people.
Tahau Paton is also on the
committee. She said the work
being done is “awesome.”
A city council spokesperson
said it is looking at what road
works can be completed at Naval
Point, alongside what improvements
can be made to signage
and vehicle and pedestrian access
between Te Ana Marina and the
site, prior to the event.
“SailGP will communicate
the impacts of the transport
management plan to Lyttelton
and Lyttelton Harbour residents,
as well as the wider Christchurch
community, with help from
ChristchurchNZ and the city
council,” they said.
Museum priority
raised with council
• From page 1
It asked whether the size of
cuts to Akaroa Museum was
the same as those being proposed
elsewhere, such as to the
Christchurch Art Gallery.
The group also asked whether
the museum was considered a
lower priority site by the city
council.
However, they are yet
to receive any response.
In its deputation, the
museum group noted
other city council-funded
cultural and heritage
facilities were to receive
maintained or greater
levels of funding in the
Long Term Plan, such
as $5.5 million towards
the Arts Centre and
$11.8 million to the McDougall
Art Gallery.
It told the deputation it was
“worried about the inequity” being
shown towards the museum,
which holds significant historical
stories.
Community board chairwoman
Tori Peden said it supports the
service that the museum provides
to the community and is also
concerned that less funding will
mean a loss of that service.
It has referred the deputation to
the city council.
“We need to see what the
funding cuts will look like on the
ground,” she said.
Tori Peden
Akaroa was the site of the first
formal European settlement in
the South Island.
The Treaty of Waitangi was
signed in the Akaroa area by two
Māori chiefs, Iwikau and Tikau.
The area was also the site of two
attacks by Te Rauparahau on the
local tangata whenua at Takapuneke
and Onawe.
The deputation was
supported by the Comte
de Paris Descendants
Group, the Libeau Family,
and the Akaroa Cemeteries
Group, totalling about
460 residents.
Art Gallery director
Blair Jackson told Bay
Harbour News the city
council had chosen to
make budgets cuts to the
Akaroa Museum as part of the
city-wide Long Term Plan process
to actively look for ways to reduced
spending and ensure rates
increases are kept to a minimum.
Said Jackson: “The required
savings target for Akaroa Museum
are not forecast to begin
until fiscal year 2023. This extra
year is to assist the museum to
identify areas where savings can
be made. There is also the Annual
Plan process which will offer the
ability to revisit the Museum’s
operational funding.”
The Friends of the Akaroa
Museum did not want to provide
further comment at this stage.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Akaroa Museum is facing funding
cuts.