Work and projects that we've already completed in the OARC.
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Christchurch City Council submitted investment cases to both the Crown and the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust for funding to kick-start the development of the Regeneration Area, and received $40 million from the Canterbury Regeneration Acceleration Fund and $13.7 million from the Appeal Trust.
Opened in June 2026.
We redeveloped Avon Park and the surrounding pockets of regeneration areas between 740 Avonside Drive and Kerrs Road, to incorporate the City to Sea Pathway, improving local ecology and upgrading the current recreational facilities.
Nearby, the Snell Place footbridge crosses the Ōtākaro Avon River and forms part of the City to Sea Pathway. Footpaths connect the park to the pathway, which crosses Avon Park between the higher terrace and the newly established wetland. Car parking is provided nearby.
New facilities for Avon Park include nature-play areas, an informal pump track, a full-sized basketball court, community forage gardens and a grassed area for ball games.
As part of this work, traffic-calming measures were made to Torlesse Street, Braemar Place and Kerrs Road north of Wainoni Road, and traffic counters were installed on Torlesse Street to measure if the changes result in significant traffic increases on the local road.
Opened in September 2025.
The fourth and final bridge was opened in September 2025. The concept for the bridge was conceived in collaboration with engineering and fine arts students from the University of Canterbury, based on a Mōkihi, a form of raft.
Opened in January 2025.
The City to Sea Pathway project is an 11km shared-use pathway which meanders through the red zone.
The first of three sections has been completed with the pathway, planting, directional signage, nature play spaces and lighting all installed.
The Western pathway runs between Fitzgerald Avenue and Snells Bridge.
Opened in May 2022.
A new version of the twisted and distorted bridge that became a symbol for the power of the Canterbury earthquakes was reinstated in May, when the Medway Street footbridge was opened.
For the first time since the earthquakes, people can now walk or bike over the river from where Medway Street meets River Road across to Avonside Drive.
After the original Medway Street bridge was removed in 2013, it was cut into three sections before being stored at Ferrymead Heritage Park.
In 2018, a section was returned to the site as a memorial structure and sits near the bridge’s original location, on the Avonside side of the river.
Opened in May 2022.
The new Snell Place bridge opening marked the completion of the first bridges and landings to be constructed in the OARC.
Spanning the Ōtākaro Avon River from near the Snell Place/Locksley Avenue intersection to Avonside Drive, this bridge will play a key role in the future City to Sea pathway that will run from the city to New Brighton.
Opened in March 2022.
Carrying the theme of a picnic in the forest, the Dallington riverside landing next to Gayhurst Road is the first of a number of landings that will be built along the Ōtākaro Avon River.
The Dallington Landing features two shelters, public toilets, a koru-shaped pathway, picnic tables, and access to the Ōtākaro Avon River, to encourage people to connect with each other, the river and the Regeneration Area.
Opened in March 2022.
The Avondale Bridge was the first of the three bridges to be completed. It crosses the river from the end of Briarmont Street to the regeneration area adjacent to New Brighton Road, providing an important connection between Avondale and the ecologically restored wetlands planned for the future Eastern Reach.
