Private Plan Change 22 - Upper Styx
What is Private Plan Change 22?
Christchurch City Council is consulting on a proposed private plan change that would rezone 18.5ha. of land behind Willowbank from Rural Urban Fringe to Residential New Neighbourhood.
This is for approximately 230 houses that would be developed directly on Willowbank’s southern boundary.
Willowbank is a family owned reserve and has been around for 52 years - initially the area was all farmland and protected against development from a flight path. That flight path has now been removed and opens the way forward for Plan Change 22.
Potential Impact
We believe this proposed development will have negative impacts on the welfare of the animals in our care, reserve operations and threatens to undermine our conservation efforts including our work protecting New Zealand's "Big 5" - the kea, tuatara, kākā, takahē and kiwi.
Our concerns are wide-ranging starting at the construction phase and extending to impacts from vibration, light pollution and increased human activity.
Our kiwi and takahē breeding centres are close to the boundary where noise, vibrations, increased domestic predators could impact the safety and wellbeing of the highly sensitive and vulnerable taonga in our care.
We are concerned about the impacts of residential development on important waterways, specifically the Pūharakekenui / Styx River running through the PC22 site.
Willowbank currently uses the boundary of the reserve to house off display animals, a composting facility and a quarantine facility, as well as other areas that can create some noise and smell that may not sit well alongside residential development.
Further development may compromise Willowbank's overall visitor experience.
Learn more about this proposal on the Christchurch City Council website.
Learn More About Private Plan Change 22We would like council to make the below decision
While we acknowledge the need for development in Christchurch, we would like to see the council make one of the below decisions:
No change in zoning from rural to residential on the proposed development site.
No residential development or associated infrastructure between Pūharakekenui / Styx River and Willowbank's southern boundary.
Willowbank to be protected by a special purpose zoning that considers appropriate buffers and provides long term protection.
What happens next?
The submission period for Private Plan Change 22 has now closed.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone in our community who took the time to learn about the proposal, share their concerns and make a submission. The level of support for Willowbank, our animals and our important conservation work has meant so much to us.
The next stage of the process is for Christchurch City Council to release a summary of the submissions received. A hearing will then take place, where submissions and evidence will be considered before a recommendation and final Council decision.
We’ll continue to advocate for the long-term protection of Willowbank and the important conservation work that takes place here, and will share further updates as the process progresses.