Christchurch City Council approves changes to Annual Plan

The Christchurch City Council has approved changes to it’s Annual Plan after reviewing public feedback.

The biggest item to note is that the council will be spending $1million on helping with mental health issues.

“New plans for Southshore and South Brighton, more money for footpath repairs and cheaper swimming pool entry for some children were agreed today as Councillors responded to public feedback on the draft Annual Plan.”

The changes listed are:

• A 25 per cent discount on child entry fees for Council pools for Community Services card holders
• $40,000 more for the Council’s Swimsmart learn to swim programme
• $1.78m more for footpaths, particularly in parts of the city most affected by earthquakes
• $600,000 more to speed up street renewals
• A $428,000 grant to complete the community-led repair and landscaping of Mt Pleasant War Memorial Community Centre
• $250,000 for Akaroa Museum to complete the fit-out of exhibition spaces
• $20,000 for the proposed pedestrian bridge over the Lower Heathcote plus other support
• $70,000 for the SingularityU New Zealand Summit in November
• $1 million for a partnership with the Ministry of Health to support community well-being and resilience
• $50,000 towards the 2017 Asia Pacific Cycling Congress
• $400,000 towards setting up a City Foundation to promote philanthropic investment, subject to further advice
• Up to $500,000 towards Mona Vale gatehouse and a building at Halswell Quarry Park if they are suited to commercial use, for example as cafes
• Investigate intersection improvements near the entrance to Christchurch Adventure Park, which opens in December 2016.

The council is also expected to approve a rates increase of 4.5% on Thursday.