16th April 2013

$8.5m large projects for Kaiapoi and eastern Christchurch help long-term recovery

The Appeal Trust published a report in The Christchurch Press 13 April 2013 to provide an update its recent activities and projects funded. Here is the full update with pictures click here (.pdf).

 

Christchurch Press update April 2013

Appeal Trustees have dedicated $8.5 million to two large projects in Kaiapoi and Christchurch’s eastern suburbs to make a positive, lasting contribution to Canterbury’s long-term recovery and leave a legacy to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. The projects are:

  • $2 million to the Kaiapoi Riverbanks Project to provide and repair walkways, cycleways and other public amenities along the Kaiapoi River through Kaiapoi township. $2 million is now available to the Waimakariri District Council to stimulate this project and begin work.
  • $6.5 million for water attractions at the new Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sports Centre in the eastern suburbs. This grant includes $3.1 million generously donated by an anonymous donor and $500,000 kindly provided by New Zealand Community Trust.

Trustees hope that the Appeal Trust funding can make the aquatic facility great fun with a lot more to offer people and by providing confirmation at this early stage Council can include water attractions in the overall design of the centre.

Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trustee Dr Rod Carr says: “The Trustees’ vision for these large projects is to help ‘bring a positive tomorrow to Canterbury today’. We’ve dedicated $8.5 million to help boost these two great projects along, providing certainty that they can progress, so go for it Canterbury! Champion these great projects and move them forward for the benefit of us all.”

As Canterbury has moved from immediate response to long-term recovery, so has the focus of the Appeal Trust. Trustees are now considering how best to use the remaining funding (approximately $40 million) to make a positive difference to Canterbury’s long-term recovery, and expect to fund further large projects during 2013 while ensuring that limited funds remain available for smaller local community projects.

 

Over $61 million allocated to projects

Projects funded July 2012 - March 2013 include:

Heritage & Culture

  • Strengthening Riccarton House, a Category 1 registered historic building.
  • Strengthening the historic malt kiln at Ward’s Brewery.

Economic Revitalisation

  • Helping 14 local business precincts across Christchurch.

Large Permanent Projects

  • Walkways, cycleways and other public amenities along the Kaiapoi River.
  • Water attractions at the new Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sports Centre in the eastern suburbs.

Hardship/Spiritual & Faith

  • Transitional community centres for Belfast and Opawa.
  • Repairing up to 80 homes of uninsured, vulnerable residents in south Christchurch via Addington Action.
  • A community plan for the Eastern suburbs.
  • Pool changing facilities at Central New Brighton School, repairs to Roy Stokes Community Hall, Lyttelton community garden meeting space.
  • Over summer, ensuring fun events for all neighbourhoods, and an entertainment space in the New Brighton shopping area.
  • Hardship help for children, families, vulnerable adults and older people through Age Concern, Anglican City Mission, Methodist Mission and Presbyterian Support
  • Rebuild of Mt Pleasant Community Centre.

Sport & Recreation

  • Cure Boating Club Building repair on the Kaiapoi River.
  • Football - fixing ground drainage at Garrick Park; floodlighting at Avonhead Park; lights and new goal posts at Linfield Park.
  • Volunteer marine search and rescue facilities serving Kaikoura to Timaru and along the Waimakariri River.
  • Repairing 12 netball courts in Lincoln and Christchurch.
  • Repairing the Christchurch School of Gymnastics building.
  • Swimming - upgrading Jellie Pool’s 25m competition pool; funding temporary “pools in schoolz” for a further two summers.
  • Tennis - repairing outdoor suburban courts plus interim indoor repairs at Wilding Park.

Education/Youth

  • Helping more than 2,400 children at 11 primary schools in the eastern suburbs to learn with portable ICT equipment and software.
  • Community service programme & concert run by the Student Volunteer Army.
  • Teaching equipment for Freeville School.
  • Preparing Pacific students from low-decile schools for tertiary study.