Brownlee rejects call to hand over recovery strategy

10:23 pm on 3 October 2011

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says handing control of Christchurch's rebuild to the city council would cause unnecessary delays.

The idea has been put forward by Labour MP for Christchurch East Lianne Dalziel, who says the council has done a better job of capturing the public's imagination than the Government.

Hearings for a draft central city plan began on Monday with about 450 organisations and individuals expected to speak.

As it stands, the Christchurch City Council is in charge of coming up with a plan to rebuild the central city following February's devastating quake, leaving the Government's Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority in charge of the suburbs and wider Canterbury region through its draft recovery strategy.

Ms Dalziel told the hearing the authority's plan has failed to engage the public or show the leadership required to inspire Cantabrians.

She says it is not possible for the council to do a proper job of planning public transport when its responsibilities end at the limits of the central city.

Having one organisation in charge of planning the rebuild makes sense when it comes to public transport and working out which areas of land can be rebuilt on, she says.

About 5000 people have made submissions on the plan by the Christchurch City Council that will cost about $2 billion during the next 20 years. It focuses on light rail in the city and a smaller central business district.

Ms Dalziel is worried that there is a huge disconnect between the CBD and the rest of Christchurch. She says residents fear they could lose facilities such as QEII park and are concerned the central city is being dealt with separately.

But Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the council's CBD plan fits within the authority's recovery strategy and to make changes now would disrupt the momentum of Christchurch's recovery.