New chapter for Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 6th May 2026
The newly established Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor (OARC) Regeneration Committee represents a new beginning and a transformation from dark to light, its inaugural chair says.
The regeneration committee held its first meeting yesterday, with Tutehounuku ‘Nuk’ Korako elected chair as the Committee’s first business.
The other Committee members are Mayor Phil Mauger, Deputy Mayor Victoria Henstock, who was elected Deputy Chair, Burwood Councillor Kelly Barber, Dr Te Maire Tau and Tania Wati.
Mr Korako, Dr Tau, and Tania Wati represent Te Ngāi Tūāhūriri Rūnanga and Te Ihutai Ahu Whenua Trust.
Mr Korako told the meeting that the Committee’s kaupapa carries deep significance - not only as a major regeneration programme for the city - but as a living expression of partnership, restoration, and future-making.
“The Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor holds stories of whenua, of people, of loss, and now renewal. The role of this committee is to honour those layers while shaping something enduring for future generations,” he said.
The Committee unanimously approved three recommendations from staff regarding Council activities in the OARC.
Edge Housing Areas
The Committee approved the Council to commence a Request for Information (RFI) process covering all previously approved edge housing Areas identified within the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan. The plan identifies opportunities for two types of housing to return to the OARC catchment. Edge housing areas were identified and represent 12 hectares, or approximately 2 percent of the OARC land.
The edge housing could be suitable for limited residential development designed to front onto the open spaces OARC and improve integration between existing neighbourhoods and the regenerated corridor. The other type of housing identified within the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan, and the District Plan is for trial housing in specific areas. There is no intention to progress trial housing at this stage.
Next steps are to release a RFI to the open market to test the appetite from appropriate agencies interested in providing a range of housing opportunities in the areas already approved for housing within the District Plan.
The responses to the RFI will be provided back to the Committee and recommended next steps, if any.
Read the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan [PDF].
Stopping of Wetlands Grove and Velsheda Street, Bexley
The Committee approved a request to commence the formal road stopping process for Wetlands Grove and Velsheda Street under the Local Government Act 1974. The one house that the road serviced in the area has recently been vacated and demolished.
The one house that the road serviced in the area has recently been vacated and demolished.
Staff will now notify the community of its intent and the road stopping process will commence. This process is expected to take up to 12 months to complete.
Pump Station 8, Retreat Road Demolition
The Committee approved a request for the demolition of Pump Station 8 on Retreat Road in the OARC. This pump station is redundant, having been decommissioned as part of post-earthquake works.