East Lake is an open water course under consideration in Christchurch, New Zealand. The facility, located within the residential red zone adjacent to the Avon River, would be suitable for international rowing regattas. The facility is estimated at NZ$160m to construct.
There have been proposals for an international rowing facility for Christchurch since the early 2000s. The first proposal is known under the name Lake Isaac, an artificial lake on land known as McLeans Island next to the Waimakariri River owned by Diana Isaac. The proposal died when it was opposed by neighbouring Christchurch International Airport, with executives fearing that attracting more water foul to the area would increase the risk of bird strike for planes landing or starting. [1] [2] The plans for Lake Isaac were given to the International Rowing Federation (FISA) and from them were passed on to the organisers of the 2012 Summer Olympics, and were the blueprint for Dorney Lake. [2]
Later in the 2000s, a proposal was developed to use the Henderson Basin in Halswell for a rowing course. [1] Before the plans could be much further, the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes happened. [3] [4]
As a result of the earthquakes, large areas of land along the Avon River was deemed as unsuitable for housing, the residential red zone was gazetted starting in June 2011, and the land purchased by the Crown for NZ$1.5b. [3] [4] It was reported in 2012 that the idea of using the red zone had found the support of the Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee. The minister has two relatives who have represented New Zealand in rowing; his uncle Mark Brownlee represented New Zealand at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics, [5] and his cousin Scott Brownlee represented New Zealand at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics. [6] [3] In December 2013, Brownlee first publicly supported a water course for rowing, swimming, and triathlon, while at the same time acting as a large stormwater holding basin that could reduce flooding (the earthquakes had resulted in land to subside). Earlier in the year, Brownlee had consulted with those who were responsible for constructing Lake Dorney. [7]
The government agency responsible for the red zone, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), never engaged with the public on what could eventually happen with the land. In this information vacuum, a community group—Eastern Vision—formed itself to work with the community on their aspirations; Eastern Vision was led by Peter Beck and Evan Smith. Twenty-seven key projects were considered for east Christchurch, and the proposal for East Lake found wide support. Two lake proposals were considered, with lengths of 1.25 kilometres (0.78 mi) and 2.25 kilometres (1.40 mi) in length, and Beck reported that over 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the longer lake. [8] The East Christchurch Water Sports Community Trust formed itself in 2014 to progress the proposal and has since renamed itself East Lake Trust. [9] It is proposed to also provide other aquatic facilities, like boarding assisted by a cable ("cable boarding"), and an artificial white water rafting facility. [9]
When CERA ceased to exist in April 2016, some of its functions were taken over by Regenerate Christchurch, a joint agency of the Crown and Christchurch City Council responsible for developing and overseeing regeneration plans. [10] Part of the brief that Regenerate Christchurch was given is to investigate the feasibility of East Lake: [4]
Part of your consideration of the Avon River Corridor land should assess the feasibility of an open water course suitable for international water sports being constructed in the residential red zone.
— Gerry Brownlee and Lianne Dalziel, Letter of Expectations for Regenerate Christchurch, 14 April 2016 [11]
The chairman of Regenerate Christchurch, Andre Lovatt, hoped that decisions about the red zone along the Avon River could be made "within 12 to 18 months" (i.e. during 2017). [4] Some groups expressed concern about potential favouritism as East Lake was the only initiative explicitly mentioned in Regenerate Christchurch's brief. [12] East Lake Trust published its pre-feasibility study in August 2017, in which the facility is estimated at NZ$160m to construct, with annual operating costs predicted at NZ$500k. [13]
Regenerate Christchurch has doubts that the East Lake development would be environmentally appropriate, and it was not included in the Ōtākaro/Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan, passed in August 2019. [14]
Regenerate Christchurch itself has now closed down. [15]
East Lake would be located to the north and west of the Avon River in the Christchurch suburbs of Dallington and Burwood. Its southern end would be separated from the Avon River by Locksley Avenue, in a location opposite the existing rowing sheds on the stretch of the river that is known as Kerrs Reach. The lake would roughly be aligned in the north-south orientation and its northern end would extend to and incorporate Horseshoe Lake. [4]
Gerard Anthony Brownlee is a New Zealand politician and the 32nd speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He was first elected as a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for Ilam in 1996, representing the National Party. He became a list MP in 2020.
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and the second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand, after Auckland. Christchurch lies in the Canterbury Region, near the centre of the east coast of the South Island, east of the Canterbury Plains. It is located near the southern end of Pegasus Bay, and is bounded to the east by the Pacific Ocean and to the south by Banks Peninsula. The Avon River / Ōtākaro flows through the centre of the city, with a large urban park along its banks. Christchurch has a reputation for being an 'English' city, with its architectural identity and common nickname the "Garden City" due to similarities with garden cities in England.
Avonside is an eastern suburb in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is one of the oldest suburbs of the city, with only Heathcote being older.
Avondale is a suburb of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) northeast of the city center, and is close to the Avon River / Ōtākaro, four kilometres to the northwest of its estuary. The suburb is centred on Avondale Road and so named due to its proximity to the Avon River. It has a good sized park on Mervyn Drive called Avondale Park. This park has a kids playground, a tennis court, basketball court, and a football field in winter. There is ample vacant red zone land in Avondale for activities such as leisure and dog walking.
Dallington is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, on the north-east side of the city.
The Avon River / Ōtākaro flows through the centre of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, and out to an estuary, which it shares with the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River, the Avon Heathcote Estuary / Ihutai.
Christchurch Central City or Christchurch City Centre is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the Four Avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green space including Hagley Park, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and the Barbadoes Street Cemetery.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority was the public service department of New Zealand charged with coordinating the rebuild of Christchurch and the surrounding areas following the 22 February 2011 earthquake. After it was disestablished on 18 April 2016, CERA's functions were taken over by a variety of other agencies.
City Mall is the main pedestrian mall in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand, comprising two sections of Cashel Street plus the Bridge of Remembrance and one section of High Street. It is also known colloquially as Cashel Mall. The Bridge of Remembrance was pedestrianised in 1976. The main mall was closed to traffic on 11 January 1982 and formally reopened as a pedestrian mall on 7 August, but it was not until 1992 that the entire mall was paved. The mall was redeveloped between 2006 and 2009, and track was installed for an expansion of the heritage tram network.
Southshore is an eastern coastal suburb within Christchurch, New Zealand. It is sited on a narrow 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long sandspit that runs along the eastern side of the Avon Heathcote Estuary. The suburb is 8 km (5.0 mi) eastwards from the city centre and 5 km (3.1 mi) south from New Brighton's main retail area. Before urbanisation, the area was predominantly swampland, bordered by large sand dunes which had some Māori presence. The area holds historical and cultural importance to local Māori iwi because of the large amounts of resources and seafood gathered in the area prior to European occupation.
The Central City Red Zone, also known as the CBD Red Zone, was a public exclusion zone in the Christchurch Central City implemented after the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. After February 2013, it was officially renamed the CBD Rebuild Zone by government agencies, but remained known as the Red Zone. It gradually shrank in size and the last cordons were removed on 30 June 2013, 859 days after the earthquake.
Victoria Square is a public park located in central Christchurch, New Zealand. Originally known by European settlers as Market Place or Market Square, it was renamed to Victoria Square in 1903 in honour of Queen Victoria. It was one of the four squares included in the original plan of Christchurch when the city was laid out in 1850.
Container Mall was a temporary mall built from shipping containers in Christchurch Central City, New Zealand. It was a response to the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which destroyed most buildings in City Mall, and resulted in the central city being cordoned off from public access while buildings were being demolished. Initially considered a short-term response to the lack of permanent buildings, Re:START was popular with locals and tourists alike and remained open for business until January 2018.
The Margaret Mahy Playground – Tākaro ā Poi is a playground in the Christchurch Central City on the banks of the Avon River.
Mark Brownlee is a New Zealand rower.
Scott Alexander Brownlee is a New Zealand rower.
The Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial is the Crown's official memorial for those killed or seriously injured in the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. It is located on both sides of the Avon River downstream from the Montreal Street bridge. The memorial opened on 22 February 2017, the sixth anniversary of the earthquake.
A residential red zone is any of several areas of land in and around Christchurch, New Zealand, that experienced severe damage in the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes and were deemed infeasible to rebuild on. Through voluntary buyouts, the Crown acquired and demolished or removed over 8,000 properties. The majority were located in a broad swath of the eastern suburbs along the Avon River / Ōtākaro that had suffered damage from soil liquefaction.
The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, often referred to as the Blueprint, is the plan developed by the Fifth National Government of New Zealand for the recovery of the Christchurch Central City from a series of earthquakes, in particular the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act 2010 required the Christchurch City Council to develop a recovery plan for the central city. The plan, known as Share an Idea, was presented to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee, in December 2011. Brownlee rejected the city council's plan, established the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), and tasked that organisation with developing a plan based on the city council's draft. The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan was published in July 2012 and defined 17 anchor projects. All projects where a timeline was specified were to have been finished by 2017; none of the 17 projects have been delivered on time and some have not even been started yet.
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is a convention centre located in Christchurch Central City, New Zealand. The centre is a replacement for the previous Christchurch Convention Centre that was demolished after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Originally known as the Convention Centre Precinct, construction was funded by the New Zealand Government as part of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan. The centre is owned by the Crown through Rau Paenga Crown Infrastructure Delivery Ltd state-owned enterprise, and managed by ASM Global. The polysemous name Te Pae is "inspired" by the Māori language, and can roughly be interpreted to mean "gathering place".
