Committee recommendation on Hagley Oval cricket development report

Christchurch City Council’s Community, Recreation and Culture Committee (CRAC) has today asked that a staff report on the proposed scope of works and decision making process on Canterbury Cricket Association’s proposal to develop a cricket ground on Hagley Oval go to the full Council.

This will follow the Council seeking greater clarification over the implications of the inclusion of an international cricket ground at Hagley Park in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan.

The Committee was not asked to consider the merits of the proposal, but rather the process for a decision to be made, and what process any approval would need to go through to be given.

The Committee also recommended:

• That the Council seek written clarification from Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and the Minister of Earthquake Recovery with regard to the impact of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan on the Hagley Park Management Plan and other relevant legislation, and the intentions of CERA in including an international cricket ground at Hagley Park in the Plan.
• That the Council consider at an ordinary meeting of the Council a report on the grant of a lease to Canterbury Cricket, and that the Council is provided with a full scope of the proposal when considering the lease.
• That the Council delegates to the General Manager Regulation and Democracy Services the authority to determine whether or not the applications for resource consent lodged by Canterbury Cricket for the proposed facilities at Hagley Oval be referred directly to the Environment Court for the hearing of submissions.

 

Committee Chairperson Yani Johanson says it is essential that the Council gets clarity from CERA and the Minister about why they included an international cricket ground in Hagley Park in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan as the Committee was advised today, by staff, that the Council did not request this.

“This is a highly contentious and extremely important issue for the city and residents, and we need to be able to make an informed decision. To do this we, and the public, need all the facts. The Council is meeting with the Minister on Friday (2 November) and this is an ideal opportunity to raise this significant issue as to what decisions the Council may or may not be able to make in regards to the future of Hagley Park.

“The Council also needs more detailed information around the scope of the works. It is essential that we understand the scale of the proposed cricket development before we can consider issues such as the grant of the lease,” he says.

General Manager Community Michael Aitken says Canterbury Cricket will need to apply for resource consent for the proposed pavilion, light towers and the embankment. This means Canterbury Cricket will need to publicly notify its intention to apply for a resource consent and under the Resource Management Act there is a requirement for public consultation, which will give the public the opportunity to formally express their views.

“The Council is responsible for leasing arrangements for the land that is required for the proposed pavilion and the lights. The Council will consider whether or not to approve the granting of a ground lease to Canterbury Cricket.

“The Council also has direct control over the embankment and the full Council will consider if it will fund the construction of the embankment from budget set aside for this purpose in the 2012-2013 Annual Plan. This will be done in a public Council meeting and it is anticipated that this meeting will be scheduled to discuss this, and the lease, once the result of Canterbury Cricket’s resource consent application is known.

“Canterbury Cricket is funding all other areas of the proposed development, including the pavilion building, match and spectator facilities and match-day operational items such as additional temporary public seating,” he says.

The Committee’s recommendation will be discussed by the full Council in November.

To read the report as an agenda item click here.