“2023-25 Community Board Plan Priorities – Waipapa Papanui Innes Central
We’re developing our 2023–2025 draft Community Board Plan and we’d like to hear your feedback.
This plan outlines our vision and priorities for the Waipapa Papanui Innes Central community and will guide our decisions on local activities, projects and facilities over the next three years.”
Our Priorities:
1. A Connected Transport Network in Papanui-Innes-Central (road, cycleways, paths)
2. Safety initiatives across Papanui-Innes-Central
3. Revitalisation of Petrie Park
4. Phillipstown Hub
5. Flooding
6. Intensification
7. Downstream Effects Management Plan (DEMP)
8. Shirley Community Reserve
9. Papanui Youth Facility
https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/haveyoursay/show/580
Open for feedback: 8 March 2023 to 26 March 2023
My full feedback on the ‘2023-25 Waipapa Papanui Innes Central Community Board Plan Priorities’:
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-25CommunityBoardPlanPrioritiesWaipapaPapanuiInnesCentralFeedbackJoannaGould.pdf
8. Shirley Community Reserve
2023-25 Waipapa Papanui Innes Central Community Board Priority
“Shirley Community Centre was a well-used facility in the Shirley Community Reserve. The facility was damaged in the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes and subsequently demolished in 2012.
A pre-school, playground, half basketball court, trees, and path remain on the site along with a relocatable pump track and table tennis/picnic table which has since been added. We have heard from several residents suggesting options to consider for enhancing the reserve. These will be explored through robust engagement with the community.
What the board will do:
• Engage with the community to realise the vision for the future of Shirley Community Reserve.
• Explore partnership opportunities to support the community to fulfil its vision.
• Encourage the community to be active and participate in any decision-making that may influence the outcomes of Shirley Community Reserve.
• Consider the goals of the Ōtautahi Christchurch Climate Resilience Strategy and the Ōtautahi-Christchurch Urban Forest Plan in all decision making.
• Advocate for crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles to be considered in the project.
• Advocate for funding to be brought forward in the long term plan if appropriate.
We will measure our success by:
• Any work carried out on the reserve will mirror the community vision.
• CPTED principles are applied to the project.
• The reserve is a destination of choice for the community, a safe space that enhances wellbeing and provides a place for social connection.”
8. Shirley Community Reserve – Feedback
Background Info:
The 10 Shirley Road site has historically been a ‘place of learning’ since 1915 when the original Shirley Primary School was built.
This building later became the Shirley Community Centre a ‘place for cultural, educational and recreational activities’.
The heritage building was demolished in 2012, due to earthquake damage.
“Facilities Rebuild Tranche 1, 21. Shirley Community Centre. Replace. Section 38 (claim insured value).”
https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/The-Rebuild/Community-facilities/CommunityFacilitiesTranche1.pdf
The land at 10 Shirley Road is classified as reserve, vested in the Council by the Crown to be held “in trust for local purpose (site for a community centre)”.
“That means the land could not be used for any other purpose than a community centre…It also appears the land could not simply sit ‘vacant’.”
9. Shirley Community Facility Rebuild – 10 Shirley Road (2015)
4.3.4. Option 4: Do not build a Community Facility at 10 Shirley Road
Does not restore the service available pre-earthquake on what was a popular, heavily used site. Unlikely to be acceptable to the Community.
5.2. Christchurch City Council owns the land at 10 Shirley Road.
It is a total of 9,042m2 and is reserve land held “in trust for local purpose (site for a community centre)”.
5.3. $2,520,000 was allocated for construction of a new Shirley Community Facility as part of Tranche 1 of the Community Facilities Rebuild.
5.4. Crossways Church, a combination of three local congregations, have put forward a proposal to provide a replacement Community Facility at 10 Shirley Road.
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2015/08/SPCB_19082015_AGN.PDF
“Funding of $2.57 million has been made available in the Christchurch City Council Long Term Plan in the 2016/17 financial year for the rebuild of the Shirley Community Centre.”
8. Shirley/Papanui Community Board Area Update
2.2 Shirley Community Centre Rebuild
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2016/08/SPCB_20160831_AGN_689_AT.htm
Item 12 Proposed Shirley Community Centre Rebuild (2016)
https://youtu.be/8IyNUERFLwo
“Request that the Community Board talk with staff around potential options for a regeneration plan in this area under the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016.”
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2016/09/CNCL_20160908_MIN_480.PDF
7.4 Shirley Community Centre 10 Shirley Road (2019)
“…use the site as an open air community hub or a “longer term gap filler approach” funding has been secured for a pump track and landscaping, with the potential for other outdoor activity features over time.”
10. Community Facilities Network Plan, Page 36
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/07/SOC_20190731_AGN_3438_AT.PDF
‘Pop up’ Activities to ‘activate’ the site have had little success. Organisers need to understand the demographics for these communities & where the gaps/needs are.
Events like ‘Skip Day’ & the ‘Car Boot Sale’ organised by Shirley Road Central, required a lot of people to be involved in the planning & running of these events.
More hours were invested in planning/meetings, than the actual duration of the event & postponements happened due to the weather.
Since the redevelopment of our four remaining local schools & the work Shirley Community Trust are doing, children/youth have public/school facilities & after school opportunities in our communities.
The reserve is used mostly by the parents/children of Shirley Primary School, at drop off/pick up times.
Currently the Shirley Community Reserve has nothing to offer the adults in our area, who are at home during the day.
We have a larger population of adults 30-64 years: https://www.shirleyroadcentral.nz/suburb-stats/.
Our youth population has decreased, after two of our local high schools were rebuilt in another Ward.
Community Support:
“Today at the Christchurch City Council Long Term Plan submissions hearing, Shirley Road Central Incorporated, presented their verbal submission advocating for a new civic centre to be built on 10 Shirley Road.
The Where is Our Community Centre? petition was presented to Council, with over 1,200 signatures.
Letters of Support from Poto Williams, MP for Christchurch East & Duncan Webb Labour MP for Christchurch Central.”
Shirley Road Central, 12th May 2021
https://www.youtube.co/watch?v=qhAT6iATaE8
https://www.shirleyroadcentral.nz/the-future-for-shirley-road-central/
“Your Ideas Wanted for 10 Shirley Road”
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/your-ideas-wanted-for-10-shirley-road/, 58 submissions received
Q. How would you like to use 10 Shirley Road?
A. Community Centre/Hub/Library
https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Consultation/2021/06-June/Consultation-analysis-report.pdf
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/ccc-10-shirley-road-consultation-feedback/
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/ccc-10-shirley-road-engagement-feedback/
“10 Shirley Road was the home for NZ Society of Genealogists – Canterbury Branch [Est. 1968], for 21 years from February 1990 until the February 2011 earthquakes.
We were hoping that a new Community Centre would be built on the same site to serve the local community in many ways, and possibly return ‘home’.”
“Our city has special needs with what we have been through in the last decade, where the community have shown how strong they can be supporting each other, and desperately need safe and welcoming meeting places to suit all needs.”
Pages 61-62, Letter from Fiona Lees, Convenor, NZ Society of Genealogists – Canterbury Branch
Pages 63-70, NZSG Canterbury Branch, 50th Anniversary – February 2018, includes photos of Shirley Community Centre
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2020/11/PICB_20201120_AGN_4525_AT.PDF
Shirley Library:
The current Shirley Library is located in the carpark of The Palms (Burwood Ward).
Shirley Library is considered a ‘suburban’ library, but there is a limited book selection, no board room, meeting rooms or learning centre (flexible spaces).
– ‘Suburban’ library: Catchment ranges from 1.5km to 3km radius; services population range from 15,000 – 40,000.
Services could include a variety of activities and flexible spaces.
UDS – Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy and Action Plan 2007.
– ‘Neighbourhood’ library: Catchment ranges from 1km to 1.5km radius; serves population from 10,000 to 12,000 people. Services could include small, broad-spanning collections and a range of activities.
“…(2015) Council/ECan planning with mall owners in Shirley, with a view to possible relocation and upgrade of this library as a ‘suburban’ library.”
This implies that the current Shirley Library is actually a ‘neighbourhood’ library.
https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/2025/Libraries2025FacilitiesPlan.pdf
The actual floor space allocated to the Shirley Library, is less than half of the current building. As the Service Centre (which includes NZ Post) & the Coastal-Burwood Governance Team are also located in this building.
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/south-library-report/
There are currently no local ‘suburban’ Christchurch City Libraries in the Innes or Central Ward.
Innes Ward: https://ccc.govt.nz/culture-and-community/statistics-and-facts/community-profiles/papanui-innes-central/innes-ward/
Central Ward: https://ccc.govt.nz/culture-and-community/statistics-and-facts/community-profiles/papanui-innes-central/central/
Shirley Library is still considered the second busiest suburban library in Christchurch, even without dedicated learning spaces & meeting rooms.
“It [South] is the third-busiest suburban library, behind Fendalton and Shirley, with 4552 weekly visitors.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/128047707/earthquake-repairs-spell-18month-closure-of-popular-christchurch-library
Shirley Library has become our community centre by default, since the Shirley Community Centre was demolished in 2012, as our residents are continuing to ‘vote’ with their feet.
Youth Audit Tool (Page 13) & ReVision Youth Friendly Spaces Audit Report: Shirley Library (Page 20)
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2021/12/YTAC_20211201_AGN_5468_AT.PDF
“The Youth Audit Tool is an asset created by the youth sector of Christchurch, and offers a low-cost, robust methodology for capturing youth voice in the development of places and spaces around the city.”
As a parent of a teenager (diagnosed with ADHD, Autism & Sensory Processing Order), I’m concerned that the ‘Canterbury Youth Audit Check Card’ (Page 18) doesn’t include youth who are neurodivergent or have disability issues.
6. ReVision Youth Audit Shirley Library
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CCCDraftAnnualPlan2022JoannaGould.pdf, Page 6
Redevelopment of 10 Shirley Road, Richmond & Shirley Community Reserve:
Civic Centre/Citizen Hub
Library, Service Centre, Meeting Rooms, Learning Spaces for Community Education & Support Services:
– https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/shirley-centre-overview/
Shirley Centre: Identity | Well-being | Learning
“You Are Here”: a place to be, within our communities.
Community Education & Support Services in Learning Libraries
– https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/centre-ideas/ (2018)
– https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/building-ideas/ (2021)
– https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/landscape-ideas/ (2021)
– https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/playground-ideas/ (2023)
Latest Research/Ideas/Posts:
– https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/review-into-the-future-for-local-government/
– https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/review-into-the-future-for-local-government-update/
– https://www.facebook.com/ShirleyCentre10ShirleyRoad