Green, traffic-free Victoria Square

Press, 13 December 1985, Page 5

Green, traffic-free Victoria Square

Clear arches over a curved walkway, green spaces and a sunken courtyard are features of the $1.96M concept plan for the redevelopment of Victoria Square, approved yesterday. Fifteen Christchurch City councillors voted unanimously to adopt the plan as the basis for detailed planning to create a large park free of traffic in the central city. Another, Cr Matthew Glubb, chairman of the council’s policy and finance committee which next budget time must find the nearly S2M needed for the project, left before the vote. Before he went he expressed some doubt as to the wisdom or appropriateness of pursuing the project now, rather than using the money to improve some of Christchurch’s present facilities.

The rating requirement for the project is estimated at $1.25M over three years. The rest of the funds could come from reserves contributions made on projects in the central city and which has to be spent in that area, and the council’s Victoria Street-widening reserve account

Cr Glubb said the rates contribution represented 7 or 8 per cent of a ratepayer’s bill. The council had to be sure that that expense was justified in light of other works needing attention.

His caution was no black

mark against the plan itself. “I have nothing but praise for it,” he said. Other councillors shared this view and approved the plan, which incorporates the suggestions of 42 submissions from public and interested groups. The plan was prepared over six months by a team of council staff and representatives of groups such as the Institute of Architects and the Historic Places Trust

It is for a park that was yesterday described as “exciting,” “green,” “a city focus,” “bright,” “clear,” “a bit more trendy than we’d expected” and a “triumph in co-operation and public input” The main points are © Predominant use of green space. Only a third of the area will be paved. • Closing Oxford Terrace and Victoria Street to traffic.

• The provision of 35 car-parks along the Armagh Street and Colombo Street edges of the square. 0 Building of toilets, tearooms and information block on Armagh Street, raised two metres.

• Shifting the Captain Cook and Queen Victoria statues to central sites. • An overhead structure of aluminium bars, acrylic sheeting and steel tubing as a focus to the main entry to Victoria Square from the corner of Armagh Street and Colombo Street.

0 Retention of the Victoria Street bridge with an overhead canopy. • Moving the floral clock slightly. 0 Retaining the Bowker fountain but reducing its water capacity. 0 Circular seating areas, including a sunken court in front of the new Parkroyal Hotel.

0 A curved central path. 0 Retaining most of the existing trees. 0 High quality lighting to highlight Victoria Square at night. 0 Regrading the Avon riverbank to make the river more visible and accessible.

Councillors at the joint meeting of the works and traffic, parks and recreation and town-planning committees yesterday approved formal procedures to close the streets. The procedures — if given final approval by the council on Monday evening — could take a year.

Much of the traffic now using Oxford Terrace was either looking for a park or travelling through to Colombo Street north, said a traffic engineer, Mr Gary Huish.

He assured councillors that Armagh Street and Colombo Street could cope with the extra traffic. Although several parks in what was Victoria Street would be lost, there would be a few more than before the closing of Victoria Street

Another possibility was angle parking in Oxford Terrace east of Colombo Street

The design team’s leader, Mr John Dryden, the Acting City Planner, explained the aim of the plan as providing a vista towards the river and the Town Hall.

. By rearranging the surface of Victoria Square and raising the toilet block on the Armagh Street edge, a sweep towards the river would be created. The riverbank’s gradient would be made gradual rather than steep. The arched canopies offered the chance for shelter and for outdoor exhibi-

tions or markets. They also were a link with Cathedral Square.

Several councillors were dubious of the canopies, afraid that they would dominate the square. However, they accepted the design team’s assurances that the clear structure would not unduly interrupt views and would—on the bridge—keep features in scale.

To the suggestion that the statues might be damaged if moved, “Not so,” said the deputy general manager (works), Mr Harold Surtees.

“Victoria will survive. She has been moved before.”

If the council gives the

plan the go ahead — and it seems likely, only . four councillors having been absent from yesterday’s unanimous approval—the first budget allocation would be in 1986-87, for about $410,000.

Preliminary estimates for the project are $1.55 million. The total rises to $1.96 million when a 15 per cent contingency and 10 per cent design costs are added. The biggest cost is for the grassed and paved areas and alterations to the statues, fountain and clock ($670,000). The canopies would cost $280,000, and the tearooms building, $255,000. Removal of road surfaces

and relocation services would cost $130,000, lighting, $120,000, and bridge paving and steps, $95,000. By March the council’s Victoria Street account and the reserves contribution for the central city are estimated to be $700,000.

Other finance sources such as Government funding or public donation could be pursued. The project team noted in the conclusion to its report that “it is believed the project is affordable, particularly when seen in die context of the total investment in the central city and if work is spread over two or three years.”