Category: Research

PDF: CCC Long Term Plan 2021 Submission by Joanna Gould | April 2021

Christchurch City Council Long Term Plan 2021-31
Written Submission by Joanna Gould
1. Shirley Centre | Location
1.1 Suburbs surrounding 10 Shirley Road, Innes Ward Deprivation Index, SmartView Community Facilities
1.2 Projected Population, CCC District Planning Maps 25 & 32
1.3 CCC & Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, Kāinga Ora (Housing New Zealand)
1.4 Nearest Bus Stops/Routes to Papanui/Aranui/Parklands/New Brighton Libraries, Nearest Bus Stops/Routes to Shirley Library, Bus Routes Network Map, Nearest Bus Stops/Routes Bus Routes to 10 Shirley Road, Bus Routes to Local Community Centres
1.5 Route from Local Schools to 10 Shirley Road, Local Schools Info, Local Schools Development Plans
1.6 EnviroSchools
1.7 CCC Have Your Say Consultation: Engagement Feedback for 10 Shirley Road Report
2. Shirley Centre | Learning Libraries
3. Shirley Centre | Legacy

Christchurch City Council Long Term Plan 2021-31
Verbal Submission by Joanna Gould
https://councillive.ccc.govt.nz/video/9942
N.B. Don’t try reading from your phone, if you have problems focusing due to your eyesight. Lesson learnt: write your verbal submission down on paper, so it’s easier to read…

Our Christchurch ancestors created a place for learning, the original Shirley Primary School at 10 Shirley Road in 1915, which later was turned into the Shirley Community Centre.
This building became part of our communities identity and our own memories, until it was demolished in 2012.

Our suburbs have had a significant increase to our population due to new residential/infill housing/social housing since the CCC District Plan has been changed after the earthquakes, but no new community facilities are on budget in the proposed CCC LTP plan?

The Council collects significant Development Contributions from our suburbs “to recover the costs of providing future growth capacity for facilities such as swimming pools, sports centres, libraries”, that need investing back into our community.

Yesterday Councilor Chen asked our Community Board what impact a new centre would have on rates. The impact should be cost neutral.
The sale proceeds of the “potential Disposal of Council Owned Properties”: the four properties: 114 Hills Road, 219A Hills Road, 79 Slater Street & 81 Slater Street, could be invested in building a new centre at 10 Shirley Road.

We have collected over 1,000 signatures with our petition, which we will be presented formally in the coming weeks.
We have a letter of support from Poto Williams, our MP for Christchurch East.
The residents in our communities wants this, but it is also needed.

This location is a very visible historic landmark at the beginning of Shirley Road. Leaving it empty without a community centre, is a constant reminder of what we have lost, that we have been forgotten & have no community legacy for the future generations and clearly not what our ancestors intended for their future generations: us.

We are asking you to instruct staff to put a plan in place to deliver a new centre in this Long Term Plan term.

We need a multi cultural civic facility, not faith based, not captured by loud voices in the community, something owned and managed by our Council for all the communities connected to Shirley Road.

Shirley Road Controlled Crossing
– March 2017: Email to the Board re Shirley Rd Controlled Crossing from 10 Shirley Rd/Shirley Community Reserve to Shirley Primary School: “Since the beginning of this year the majority of parents/children are now using the traffic light crossing outside Shirley Primary School, due to the new classrooms for Years 3-6 being built on the Shirley Rd boundary. Each day cars are parked on the broken yellow lines, either side of Shirley Rd, outside Shirley Primary School. Parents are parking on the broken yellow lines due to lack of parking in this area [Downers were using the 10 Shirley Rd site, loss of access to approx 20 car parks]. Chancellor St is a dead end, and it is very hard to get back onto Shirley Rd, due to the flow of traffic at that time. Each day cars drive through the red/stop traffic lights at the crossing. Drivers seem to be focusing on the lights at the Hills Rd intersection, and seem unaware of the traffic light controlled crossing outside Shirley Primary School. There are no ‘school zone’ or ‘children crossing’ signs in this area, to remind drivers to slow down & pay more attention. Bus stops (Stop ID: 39710 & 39625) are on either side off Shirley Rd, right beside the traffic light crossing outside Shirley Primary School. The Orbiter bus stops at Stop ID: 39710, and then has to get back into the flow of traffic to turn right on to Hills Rd. There is a lot of ‘visual noise’ in this area & I’m concerned that a parent or child is going to get hurt due to a driver being distracted.”
– April 2017: Email to the Board: “Drivers can park down Chancellor St, but it is a dead end street and is very difficult to get out of during peak times due to the build up of traffic on Shirley Rd. Is it possible to create a yellow lined bay, no driving into this intersection, at the Chancellor St & Shirley Rd intersection? This would give drivers the opportunity to turn right safely when the lights are red at the crossing. Is it possible to create angled parking on the Shirley Community Centre side of Chancellor St, to create more safe car parking in this area? Is it possible to have a map created to highlight parking areas available, to be handed out to drivers parking on the yellow lines & to be put in the school newsletter as a proactive way to deal with this issue? From my observations each day after school, drivers end up slamming on their brakes when the lights turn orange at the crossing, or running the red lights. Is it possible to make the timing longer between orange to red for this set of lights crossing? If the timing was longer, a driver who is going to go through an orange light, will be through the crossing, before the green walk sign for the children crossing. Lack of signage on both sides of Shirley Rd to indicate children crossing, lights, school zone (if you aren’t from this area, coming from The Palms direction, you don’t see there is a school coming up on the drivers right hand side).”
– April 2017: Email from the Board: “Parking Compliance will monitor the area regularly. A safety audit will also be initiated by our Traffic Engineer and aspects of this will be the phasing of the lights and signage (signage needs to be gazetted and fulfil legal criteria before it can be installed).”
– June 2017: ‘Red light runners risk pupil safety’, (https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/59771689/pegasus-post-june-20-2017) “There is a signalised pedestrian crossing outside the school but red light runners have caused serious concern…A full safety audit by the Council, of traffic from Hills Rd to The Palms Shopping Centre has also begun.”
– February 2020: Many emails were sent during 2017, engaging with the Board, Council staff, Traffic Engineers, Police & the school. A safety audit was done for Shirley Rd during this time. The 3 second delay was implemented between the red light for drivers & the green light for pedestrians improved the red light runners issue. My son is now at Intermediate, so I no longer go through this area at school drop off/pick up times, but I still see distracted drivers heading towards the Hills Rd intersection go through the red lights at the controlled crossing.

Christchurch Northern Corridor Downstream Effects Projects
– September 2019: Papanui-Innes Community Board and Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board Agenda (https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/09/JM-LA_20190913_AGN_3988_AT_EXTRA_WEB.htm), Minutes (https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/09/JM-LA_20190913_MIN_3988_AT_EXTRA_WEB.htm).
– September 2019: “The proposed CNC plan makes it quicker/easier for drivers using the motorway, but at the expense of local residents being given restricted access to their local streets, causing anxiety/stress and impacting their wellbeing/daily life.
I disagree with the removal of the Warrington St and Forfar St roundabout, it is safe and it works well with the traffic flow. This is also the safest place to turn right (between Hills Rd & Cranford St) onto Forfar St, to get onto Westminster St and/or Innes Rd, if you are coming from Shirley Rd. Closing Forfar St will push traffic onto Westminster St then the smaller residential streets or into the already busy Hills Rd/Shirley Rd intersection, causing more problems for this area (Pg 2, Community Safety: Intersection Upgrades, CNCHearing27753JoannaGould.pdf ).
New Pedestrian Signal Crossing outside English Park: Agree, this is a very busy & distracting area during St Albans School drop off/pick up times. Pedestrian crossing needs to connect with the path from St Albans School. Cranford St from Westminster St to Warrington St needs to be ’40kmph School Zone’ during school drop offs/pick ups to make it safer. Due to our experience with red light runners at the pedestrian signal crossing outside Shirley Primary School, I would suggest the same 3 second delay from the red lights for the drivers, before activating the green pedestrian crossing light (Pg 3, Community Safety: St Albans School, CNCHearing27753JoannaGould.pdf )”
“These community safety project ideas/suggestions address issues in and around the CNC: Forfar St Zebra Crossing to St Albans Park, Forfar St/Warrington St Roundabout, Berwick St/Cranford St Intersection, Cranford St Signalised Pedestrian Crossing for St Albans School/English Park, Westminster St/Cranford St Intersection and Westminster St Platform Pedestrian Zebra Crossing for St Albans School.” (CNCHearing27753JoannaGouldOverview.pdf)
– September 2019: “The Council considered the report and recommendations for transport projects downstream of the Christchurch Northern Corridor (CNC). The projects are contained in the Council’s Downstream Effects Management Plan (DEMP). The resolutions were passed by the Council as proposed, along with one extra resolution that requested ‘that the Courtney Street renewal be investigated during the next Draft Long Term Plan’.” (Item 9. https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/09/CNCL_20190924_MIN_3981_AT_WEB.htm)
– February 2020: I went to a meeting with the consultant/traffic engineers/council staff regarding Northern Arterial Extension and Cranford St Upgrade, there was strong community concern over extra traffic exiting the motorway onto Cranford St.
I didn’t realise at the time the impact the proposed Intersection upgrades (Pg 2, Community Safety: Intersection Upgrades CNCHearing27753JoannaGouldOverview.pdf) would have on Westminster St/Hills Rd/Shirley Rd area. I do hope the Warrington St/Barbadoes St Intersection upgrade is done first, so the new traffic patterns from this upgrade can be seen in real life, to determine whether the other Intersection upgrades are still required. Traffic calming decisions should be deferred at this stage, until there is a known problem with a particular street.

The Palms Suburban Interchange Upgrade
– August 2017: https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/consultations-and-submissions/haveyoursay/show/65
Proposed Shirley Road Bus Stop Changes (by Shirley Intermediate)
1. The width of the existing separated cycle/pedestrian path would be reduced by 0.5 meters to provide space for the indented bus stop.
2. The footpath along the bus stop would be realigned and changed to shared path as the reduced footpath width is not suitable as a separated facility. The shared path at the bus stop would be usable by cyclists, pedestrians and bus passengers.
3. Extending the bus stop from one bus stop to provide space for two buses.
4. Installation of a 10m bus shelter to accommodate bus passengers.
– https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Consultation/2017/August/Shirley-Road-Options-Assessment.pdf (25th July 2017)
– https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Consultation/2018/March/Shirley-Road-bus-stop-upgrade.pdf (27th March 2018)
– February 2019: The Palms Suburban Interchange Upgrade, Stage 1, Shirley Road Bus Stop and Shelter Upgrades “The Board discussed the health and safety issues regarding the right hand turn from Shirley Road into the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) retail outlet opposite the bus stop and shelter and felt that a comparison between the current mitigation proposals and removal of the right hand turn into KFC would aid the Board in making a decision.”
“The Waipapa/Papanui-Innes Community Board decided to lay the report on the table and to request that staff:
1. Advise the Board on the implications of removing the right hand turn into KFC as far as traffic flow and ‘pinch points’ are concerned and provide a comparison with the proposed mitigation measures.
3. Advise the Board around the process regarding changes to the proposal as per number 1. above and whether there is a need to re consult. (https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/02/PICB_20190222_MIN_3215_AT_WEB.htm)
– August 2019: Item 9. The Palms Suburban Interchange Upgrade, Stage 1, Shirley Road bus stop and shelter upgrades. (https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/08/PICB_20190809_MIN_3225_AT_WEB.htm)
Community Board Resolved (original staff recommendation accepted without change)
– Updated Plan The Palms PT Hub Shirley Road Bus Stop and Shelter Upgrade, Page 11 (https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/08/PICB_20190809_MAT_3225.HTM#PDF3_ATTACHMENT_21130_1) (8th August 2019)
– February 2020: “Consultation for this project ran from 16 Aug to 6 Sept 2017 and we received 13 submissions.” I was living in Shirley at this time and was unaware this consultation was taking place. I didn’t know of the proposed ‘The Palms Suburban Interchange Upgrade’ until I started researching Shirley/Richmond. I wonder how many people who currently use Shirley Rd understand how the ‘Shirley Road Bus Stop (by Shirley Intermediate)’ upgrade will affect the footpath/cycle lane/road?

Shirley Intermediate New Two Way Driveway
– Shirley Intermediate, Building Progression at SIS, “Creation of two-way vehicle access from Shirley Road”, Pegasus Post, Page 4 (10th September 2019)
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/62816464/pegasus-post-september-10-2019
– September 2019: Email sent to Papanui-Innes Community Board
“Yesterday I was reading the Pegasus Post and noticed the Shirley Intermediate School article. I was concerned to read under Building Progression At SIS, The design of the new school includes: Creation of two-way vehicle access from Shirley Road. This stretch of Shirley Road from The Palms lights/intersection to Warden Street is very busy, especially at school drop off/pick up times and when people are driving to/from home to work. I travel through this area each day and have had so many near misses with other drivers and pedestrians, that I now wait an extra 20 minutes at my son’s school before heading back through this congested area. I had previously read the Papanui-Innes Community Board agenda/minutes discussing a new Shirley Road Bus Stop, but couldn’t remember the actual plans, so I’ve just looked them up.
Attached is a .pdf (ShirleyRoadBusStopShirleyIntermediatePlans.pdf): Shirley Road Bus Stop Shirley Intermediate Plans that includes: original plan (showing blue rectangle/Access for Shirley Intermediate), approved plan, street views of Shirley Road and the issues with this area. I know the Papanui-Innes Community Board approved the plan on Friday 9 August 2019. But does the Board know about the Ministry of Education’s proposed ‘two-way vehicle access’ from Shirley Intermediate School to Shirley Road? The CCC ‘Have Your Say’ consultation was done in Aug-Sep 2017. The Ministry of Education’s rebuild plans for SIS have not been made public, they are not online anywhere. I doubt many people in the community are aware that a ‘two-way vehicle access’ is going to be created in front of the new Shirley Road Bus Stops, in a section of Shirley Road that has known safety issues. In summary, pre-teen/children’s brains aren’t fully developed, they are reliant on adults to make informed decisions that improve their safety, where they may lack observation/road safety skills. If parents are concerned about their child/children getting to/from school safely, they will be rethinking their freedom to walk/bike/scooter and instead use their car, adding to vehicle numbers. Please be mindful of the local communities. I ask [the Board] that you don’t give more weight to the consultants/statistics, and consider the practical knowledge residents have of their roads/communities.”
– February 2020: This area is already congested with a lot of ‘visual noise’, see “The Palms Suburban Interchange Upgrade” above. The Marshlands Rd/New Brighton Rd/North Pde/Shirley Rd is No. 10 in ‘The 10 Intersections with the Most Red Light Runners’ (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/109855166/red-light-running-rampant-in-christchurch). The upgrade plan is to include two bus stops instead of one, and requires moving the start of the bus stops west on Shirley Rd, which means the bus stops will be closer to ‘Access for Shirley Intermediate’. Now with the Shirley Intermediate rebuild plans finalised, ‘Creation of two-way vehicle access from Shirley Rd’ will be added right in front of the new bus stops. The footpath is being narrowed and a cycle lane is being created on the road, to the right of the bus stops, before cyclists cross in front of the new bus stops & new Shirley Intermediate two-way vehicle access, to get back onto the shared path.
So we have red light runners, people running across Shirley Rd to catch the bus, two buses pulling into bus stops & pulling out into traffic, new cycle lane, drivers waiting to turn right into KFC, school students & vehicles from the new two-way access from Shirley Intermediate able to turn left or right in front of the new bus stops. Again ‘I wonder how many people who currently use Shirley Rd understand how the ‘Shirley Road Bus Stop (by Shirley Intermediate)’ upgrade [& Shirley Intermediate New Two Way Driveway] will affect the footpath/cycle lane/road?’