Christchurch’s River Avon plan would boost sporting access and create a new island
According to the plan’s authors, cutting a new stretch of the Ōtākaro Avon River would attract more people to water sports and improve the ecology of the area.
Next month, city council will consider a $ 20 million proposal from water sports groups to cut off a new boating route north of Kerrs Reach, in Christchurch’s riverside red zone corridor.
The groups say they must refuse the youngsters and that their plan would boost rowing, waka ama, kayaking and dragon boat.
The plan would be to straighten Kerrs Reach at Porritt Park and cut a new mile-long stretch joining the river at the Avondale Rd bridge.
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Artist’s impression of new water sports facilities, as part of a plan to cut a new stretch of the River Avon north of Kerrs Reach.
The resulting 1.8 km course would be the same width as the rest of the river.
It would also create a new island as an ecological sanctuary with habitat for īnanga spawning. [whitebait].
The plan differs from a previous campaign for a large river lake 2 km long in the same area. This proposal and the East Lake’s Trust plan for a 2.2 km lake off the river have both been previously rejected.
Logan Keys, director of the Canterbury Rowing Association and school rowing coach, said the town’s existing Kerrs Reach rowing course was too small and unsafe.
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The new straightened river stretch would stretch from Kerrs Reach to Porritt Park, on the left, to Avondale Rd Bridge, on the right, creating a new island in the river.
“There is basically a bottleneck. We already have collisions between different groups, and sports cannot grow.
He estimated that local clubs were turning down a quarter of potential young rowers.
A larger facility would allow schools to participate that cannot afford to send teams to train and compete at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel, he said.
Keys said he carried out initial hydrological, ecological and geotechnical studies, and that the proposal matched the city’s regeneration plan for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.
Now they want the board to take the lead in getting the more detailed studies needed.
STACY SQUIRES / Tricks
Logan Keys, director of the Canterbury Rowing Association, on the River Avon where the new cut was to begin.
He said there should be enough information to decide by mid-2022 whether the plan was viable.
“It could then take three years to get something in the ground. “
The riverside red zone includes 600 hectares of former housing land damaged by earthquakes. It is to be reused for recreation, ecological restoration and other uses, including an 11 km trail between the city and the sea.
Council Parks Officer Andrew Rutledge said the proposed river cut meets the goals of the regeneration plan, including regeneration of nature, living with water and practicing mahinga kai (using natural resources).
“It is still in its very early stages, but we are keen to understand all the effects and benefits the proposal could bring to the community and to the native flora and fauna.”
The plan also includes moving the onshore recreational boating facilities across the river, freeing Porritt Park for reallocation.
Craig Pauling, president of the Waka Ama Pounamu club, said their sport is the fastest growing in New Zealand and the new proposal has “a lot of positives”.
“If everything goes as planned it would be great for our sport. It would give us a place for our racing events because we don’t have a place for that now. “
Christchurch has five waka ama clubs with several hundred paddlers aged 6 to 70 and over, as well as school teams, Pauling said.
Chris Skelton / Stuff
Waka Ama Pounamu President Craig Pauling, pictured at the center of recent Waitangi Day celebrations in Okains Bay, said Waka Ama is the fastest growing sport in New Zealand.
“We also use Lyttelton Harbor. But for the kids, the harbor gets too windy and choppy, and we have to cancel a lot of sessions.
“We have a lot of paddlers who want to go out on the river.
“With better facilities, we could produce more New Zealand and World Champions.”
CHRIS SKELTON / Tips
Hayley Guglietta of the Avon-Otakaro network wants to see more research on the river cut proposal.
Hayley Guglietta, spokesperson for the Avon-Ōtākaro network, which wants a river park and ecological reserve in the red zone, said she supports the idea of the plan.
“We did not support a lake in or out of the river. I think it’s a great alternative.
She agreed that the council should take the next step of the research.
“This next step is very important. At first glance, the idea of a water-related eco-sanctuary on the island is fantastic, ”said Guglietta.
“But we really have to understand the technical data, the hydrology and its cultural impact.”