Creating a legacy for the future.
Regenerating the 602-hectare Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a legacy that benefits future generations. Stretching from the city to the sea, the 11km regeneration area contains streets, lawns and gardens that used to make up people’s properties.
Read the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan(external link).
The area’s potential is exciting and could provide a range of environmental, social and commercial benefits, as we explore ways to protect homes from the effects of climate change and sea-level rise, and make the Ōtākaro Avon River a healthier place for people and wildlife.
Transforming the area into a valuable asset for Christchurch won’t happen overnight. Given the scale of the Regeneration Area – it’s three-and-a-half times bigger than Hagley Park – and the costs of implementation, we estimate it will take 30 to 50 years to complete this development.
View the Regeneration Plan’s Greenprint [PDF, 12 MB] of how the entire Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor could look in the future.
The Green Spine
The Green Spine will form the core of the regeneration area. At 11km long, it will follow the Ōtākaro Avon River and feature swathes of restored native habitat, trails, paths, footbridges, community spaces, and riverside landings that provide access to the water and local information about the area.
The Council is developing a staged process for the planning, construction and implementation of the Green Spine.
Over recent years, Council staff, organisations and volunteers have planted tens of thousands of native trees throughout the Green Spine, as we begin bringing the vision of an ecologically-restored river corridor to life.
At the same time, engineering reports and decisions about stopbank and stormwater basin placement are underway. This needs to be completed so that stopbank construction and placement are carefully considered and don’t preclude any other land uses.
Work on the Green Spine and OARC is well underway – you can read more about the projects we've already completed.
