This week the Prime Minister and the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee, have announced the blueprint for the rebuild of the Christchurch CBD, and it certainly looks exciting. Facilities for high-performance sports, health and innovation, and a new convention centre are some of the highlights of the new central Christchurch.
The plan released this week showcases the new city, providing for the replacement of the key facilities that a city such as Christchurch requires. Christchurch will be divided into precincts of health, arts and entertainment, retail, and the justice and emergency sectors.
Life has certainly been difficult for many in the Garden City but plans like these will undoubtedly soften the blow as they start to take shape over the next few years. This part of the rebuild could involve as much as $30 billion of the Government's and investors' money - a massive project.
The follow-on from the Canterbury earthquakes has impacted many others in New Zealand. And many of the small towns in the Rangitikei electorate, and indeed Wanganui itself, are feeling it. There is a discussion that communities need to have, as we see buildings closed because of their earthquake-prone natures, such as the courts in Feilding. We have seen other businesses relocating within towns to ostensibly safer buildings and this trend will continue.
The challenge for us all in the affected areas is to decide what we can afford to retain, and what price we are prepared to pay to retain the special history that goes with these buildings.
One last thing: The Parliamentary Sports Trust held netball and rugby matches in Palmerston North over the weekend and raised a very creditable $4500 for the two charities concerned, Special Olympics and Riding for the Disabled.
