20130328_1143_EOS M-55 Red zone weeds (Day 87/365)

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Growing in a red zone vacant section in Wetlands Grove, Pacific Park.

BeckerFraserPhotos March 2013 photograph 149

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An aerial photograph looking across Burwood to the Travis Wetlands and Bottle Lake Reserve.

BeckerFraserPhotos March 2013 photograph 154

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An aerial photograph of Anzac Drive in Burwood.

20130112_2576_G12-18 Avon River. Herring Bay, Kibblewhite Street, South Ne…

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

When I was a kid this bit of land in the foreground was level and extended at least three times further out, but after the earthquakes you can see the angle that land near the river slumped. We used to catch a lot of herrings (yellow -eyed mullet) here when I was a kid, hence the local name of Herring Bay. Across the river is the Bexley Wetlands.

20130814_2441_1D3-58 Cranes (Day 226/365)

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Work is continuing on the earthquake damaged South New Brighton bridge. Avon River to the left, Avon-Heathcote Estuary the other side of the bridge.

A community-led, science-informed conversation around the future use of th…

Research Papers, Lincoln University

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.