More than 10,000 took part in the Council's Share an Idea Community Expo

More than 10,000 Cantabrians, young and old, took part in the Council’s Share an Idea Community Expo at CBS Arena in Addington this weekend to put their suggestions forward for how Christchurch’s Central City should be redeveloped.

More than 10,000 Cantabrians, young and old, took part in the Council's Share an Idea Community Expo at CBS Arena in Addington this weekend to put their suggestions forward for how Christchurch's Central City should be redeveloped.

Mayor Bob Parker says the Council will consider all ideas as it works to develop the Central City Plan, a broadly agreed structure and direction for the Central City.

"I'm thrilled with the turn out of enthusiastic residents across the weekend and would like to thank everyone who made the effort to put forward an idea for the future of our city.

"However, this is just the start. Council staff will be engaging with the community in a number of ways during the weeks and months to come. This Central City Plan will only truly be successful if the people of this city are behind it."

Eighteen urban designers, business leaders, arts and tourism representatives, geo-tech experts, architects, environmentalists, students and a Central City resident for 57 years were invited to the Speakers' Corner at this weekend's expo to help prompt thinking and suggestions.

During the expo people were encouraged to use Lego, crayons, images and video to inspire their thinking and ideas could be text in for free, written on a post-it-notes, recorded on YouTube or filled out in a form.
Public workshops, covering a range of topics, will be held in late May and early June. Registrations can be made online or at service centres from the middle of next week.

"We encourage you to start talking with your family, friends and neighbours about your ideas for the Central City and share these conversations with the rest of us. The more discussions and ideas we have the better," says Mr Parker.

People can share an idea on www.shareanidea.org.nz, Facebook – Share an Idea, Twitter - #shareanidea and YouTube - www.youtube.com/shareanidea