Kaiapoi, just north of Christchurch, has unveiled a bold new plan for the parts of the town wiped off the map in the Canterbury earthquakes.
Photo: Supplied / Waimakariri District Council
Now the plan wants to embrace the river that runs through Kaiapoi, have house boats moored there, a place for campervans to park up and build a covered sports facility.
After the 2010 and 2011 quakes a quarter of Kaiapoi's homes had to be demolished, their occupants in many cases leaving for good.
Now, the Waimakariri District Council has come up with a plan that takes a two pronged approach, reinvigorating areas left vacant by the quakes while also revitalising the rest of the town.
Waimakariri District Council manager Simon Hart said crucially it will reorientate shops, bars and restaurants towards the river that runs through the middle of the town by redesigning stop banks which currently act as a barrier.
"One of the themes was for people to be able to experience the [Kaiapoi River], that runs right through the heart of the town, and to be able to engage with that river and create activity - through that conversation, the canal boats/house boats theme came out about having something on the river that people could interact with."
Mr Hart said the plan has a big focus on getting people more active.
"We see that as something like an [action indoor sports centre], which might be for social football [or] social cricket."
Enterprise North Canterbury promotes businesses in the region.
Kaiapoi is a town on the rise, its manager Miles Dalton said.
"People can see what's coming up. People are seeing that there's potential in Kaiapoi, and they're seeing on the back of a disaster - that wiped out so much of Kaiapoi - it's brought opportunity. That's where we're at now - we're at the opportunity stage."
The plan envisages turning empty buildings into affordable shared office space for small businesses.
Mr Dalton said the idea was to turn Kaiapoi from being a commuter town to one that supports its own workforce.
"A lot of the concerns are the number of people who commute into Christchurch. Since the earthquake, Kaiapoi's become more of a dormitory town. Of course, if you go and work in Christchurch, you're more likely to spend in Christchurch.
"A lot of what we want to accomplish with this is actually drawing people back to Kaiapoi - creating jobs in Kaiapoi so people don't have to work elsewhere."
The plan will reorientate shops, bars and restaurants towards the river that runs through the middle of the town by redesigning stop banks which currently act as a barrier, Simon Hart said. Photo: RNZ / Dan Dalgety
A local developer, Andrew Wenborn, said as well as getting people to work locally, the new town needs people to shop locally as well.
"I think we have to get our business district up to the standard [it] requires - that's going require more shops coming into the district ... experienced-based shopping as well, where we have buildings that engage with the population - something they're proud of. A big key is getting the right shops in the mix, so that they will start meeting that need which Kaiapoi has."
One of the more novel suggestions is from the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association, which wants a space where its campervan driving members can park up for the night.
Its head, Bruce Lochore, said this would provide a welcome alternative to Christchurch where a handful of popular spots were overflowing.
"There's a huge amount of pressure [on Christchurch]. We think having a [New Zealand Motor Caravan Association] park on the other side, on the Kaiapoi side, helps relieve some of that pressure. It's a member only facility."
Two drop-in sessions on the plan will be held this month at the Kaiapoi Civic Centre for the public and businesses.
The final version will be released in November.
