Jack Fletcher at Stuff.co.nz reports:
The group behind a proposal to build a new lake in Christchurch’s residential red zone has released an indicative design of the flat water facility aimed to transform the city’s east.
The East Lake Trust, chaired by David Goodman, released the plans on Monday. He said trustees were “thrilled with the new design”, which reinstates an original bend in the Avon River around the back of Porritt Park.Goodman said the trustees feel they are “now on the home straight” towards the lake becoming a reality. Bringing back the original bend had the added advantage of allowing the lake to join up to the Kerrs Reach rowing sheds, while remaining separate from the Avon River.
Aquifer-sourced water would make the lake swimmable, meaning it could be used for triathlons alongside canoeing, waka ama, dragon boating and rowing.
Goodman previously said the lake would be an place where people could swim, walk and picnic. It was also planned to be part of the City to the Sea walk and cycle way running from central Christchurch to New Brighton.
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The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee had previously said he wanted to make the city’s red zone the “sporting capital of New Zealand”.
He said building a water course could attract global attention and solve the area’s flooding problems.
Once again I find myself putting pen to paper on the positive plans that continue to roll out for eastern Christchurch. A lake of this calibre would again be a real asset for the bordering suburbs and help put these locations back on the map. I take my hat off to the visionaries of the city, their initiatives and forward thinking is inspiring in itself. I think most of us will agree, that while we miss the “old” there is no doubt that the new is going to be far superior. Largely with affordable real estate, a new city and many new facilities emerging, Christchurch unquestionably has a positive future and certainly will be a great place to live for many years to come.