A video of Prime Minister John Key taking part in a tree planting ceremony on the banks of the Avon River in Christchurch. The trees were planted to symbolise the beginning of the rebuild of the Christchurch central city.
A photograph of a bridge being placed across the Avon River outside the UCSA building in 2015. A number of students will walk across the bridge as part of the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge.
A photograph of eight students standing in the Avon River outside the UCSA building, having just fallen through a bridge they had constructed. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.
A photograph of eight students standing in the Avon River outside the UCSA building, having just fallen through a bridge they had constructed. The photograph was taken in 2015 during the annual Civil Engineering Bridge Challenge event.
One Month after the Christchurch Earthquake. The mangled remains of the pedestrian bridge over the river Avon Twitter | Facebook | My ...
View over the Avon River through some trees. Our City O-Tautahi and the Claredon Tower can be partially seen.
A worker inside a digger, building a new bridge over the Avon river from University Drive to the Recreation Centre.
A worker inside a digger, building a new bridge over the Avon river from University Drive to the Recreation Centre.
A damaged structure on Oxford Terrace next to the Avon River has been given a yellow notice, meaning restricted access.
One Month after the Christchurch Earthquake. The mangled remains of the pedestrian bridge over the river Avon Twitter | Facebook | My ...
More repairs to the infrastructure as a result of the 2010 & 2011 earthquakes. Boat ramp at New Brighton. Avon River.
More repairs to the infrastructure as a result of the 2010 & 2011 earthquakes. Boat ramp at New Brighton. Avon River.
Lincoln University was commissioned by the Avon-Otakaro Network (AvON) to estimate the value of the benefits of a ‘recreation reserve’ or ‘river park’ in the Avon River Residential Red Zone (ARRRZ). This research has demonstrated significant public desire and support for the development of a recreation reserve in the Avon River Residential Red Zone. Support is strongest for a unique natural environment with native fauna and flora, healthy wetlands and rivers, and recreational opportunities that align with this vision, such as walking, cycling and water-based sporting and leisure activities. The research also showed support for a reserve that promotes and enables community interaction and wellbeing, and is evident in respondents’ desires for community gardens, regular festivals and markets, and the physical linking of the CBD with eastern suburbs through a green corridor. There is less support for children’s playgrounds, sports fields or open grassed areas, all of which could be considered as more typical of an urban park development. Benefits (willing to pay) to Christchurch residents (excluding tourists) of a recreation reserve could be as high as $35 million each year. Savings to public health costs could be as high as $50.3 million each year. The incorporation or restoration of various ecosystems services, including water quality improvements, flood mitigation and storm water management could yield a further $8.8 million ($19, 600) per hectare/year at 450 ha). Combined annual benefits of a recreational reserve in the ARRRZ are approximately $94.1 million per annum but this figure does not include potentially significant benefits from, for example, tourism, property equity gains in areas adjacent to the reserve, or the effects of economic rejuvenation in the East. Although we were not able to provide costing estimates for park attributes, this study does make available the value of benefits, which can be used as a guide to the scope of expenditure on development of each park attribute.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Flooding after high tide on the Avon River post quake. New Brighton Road near the Bower Tavern".
A man sits on a a bench looking towards the Avon river. The footpath and road behind him have been damaged.
Autumn leaves on trees along the Avon river, a carpark converted from a demolition site can be seen across the river. A crane and Westpac building can also be seen in the background.
Autumn leaves on trees along the Avon river, a carpark converted from a demolition site can be seen across the river. A crane and Westpac building can also be seen in the background.
The Avon river, with some cordon fence visible on the left and the central Police station in the background between the trees.
A view down the Avon River in the city centre. A street sign marks out an uneven surface further down the street.
A graphic giving details about the river park proposed in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan.
The badly twisted Medway Street footbridge. The photographer comments, "The September 4th 2010 earthquake in Christchurch was so violent that the banks of the Avon River moved towards each other. This footbridge being metal had to twist sideways to release the pressure of being pushed from both river banks. It looked like it had been wrung out like a wet towel".
The result of the magnitude 7.1 Christchurch earthquake at 4.35am on September 4th 2010. Taken from Dallington Terrace looking towards Avonside Drive. Notice how the riverbank has slumped - at high tide the tree is now surrounded by water.
The land and houses close to the Avon River have been badly damaged. Many road and footpaths are covered in silt from liquefaction.
The land and houses close to the Avon River have been badly damaged. Many road and footpaths are covered in silt from liquefaction.
A year after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, Simon Morton revisits the Avon River to see how life's progressing along it and in it.
The Ōtakaro-Avon and Ōpāwaho-Heathcote in Christchurch are some of the most polluted in the region. While the Avon has received a lot of attention since the Canterbury Earthquakes with $100 million going into a new promenade and cleaning up its water quality, it's a different story for the Heathcote River where raw sewage and industrial chemicals are still regularly found. Niva Chittock reports.
Low tide on the Avon River at New Brighton/Bexley. Note the original bank and the rock wall slipage on right. The white additions were added in March and April 2011 to protect the properties behind from flooding. Ultimately this area was "red zoned" with all houses removed or to be removed and the ground left till a rehabilitation method can ...
Looking over the Avon River to the Liquidity Bar and Restaurant. On the walls are spray painted markings left by USAR after it was checked.
Looking over the Avon River to the Liquidity Bar and Restaurant. On the walls are spray painted markings left by USAR after it was checked.
The Avon River and the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai are features of the urban environment of Christchurch City and are popular for recreational and tourist activities. These include punting, rowing, organized yachting, water skiing, shoreline walking, bird watching, recreational fishing and aesthetic appreciation. The Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 significantly affected the estuarine and river environments, affecting both the valued urban recreation resources and infrastructure. The aim of the research is to evaluate recreational opportunities using a questionnaire, assess levels of public participation in recreation between winter 2014 and summer 2014-2015 and evaluate the quality of recreational resources. The objective is to determine the main factors influencing recreational uses before and after the February 2011 earthquake and to identify future options for promoting recreational activities. Resource evaluation includes water quality, wildlife values, habitats, riparian strip and the availability of facilities and infrastructure. High levels of recreational participation usually occurred at locations that provided many facilities along with their suitability for family activities, scenic beauty, relaxation, amenities and their proximity to residences. Some locations included more land-based activities, while some included more water-based activities. There were greater opportunities for recreation in summer compared to winter. Activities that were negatively affected by the earthquake such as rowing, kayaking and sailing have resumed. But activities at some places may be limited due to the lack of proper tracks, jetty, public toilets and other facilities and infrastructure. Also, some locations had high levels of bacterial pollution, excessive growth of aquatic plants and a low number of amenity values. These problems need to be solved to facilitate recreational uses. In recovering from the earthquake, the enhancement of recreation in the river and the Estuary will lead to a better quality of life and the improved well-being and psychological health of Christchurch residents. It was concluded that the Avon River and the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai continue to provide various opportunities of recreation for users.