By Planz Consultants
Te Ara Ihutai, (Moncks Bay segment) Christchurch Coastal Pathway
The Christchurch Coastal Pathway represents a collaboration between the local community and the Christchurch City Council. The complete path extends from Ferrymead to Scarborough Beach and officially opened in late November 2023. A central feature of the project is the innovative segment between Shag Rock and the Moncks Bay Yacht Club, which features a unique cantilevered design over Moncks Bay. This segment showcases technical ingenuity and respects the area’s natural beauty, balancing ecological sensitivity with community needs.
The project employed advanced planning techniques, notably in reclaiming coastal land while safeguarding the local penguin habitats. Its complex construction involved diverting coastal and groundwater, showcasing an innovative approach to environmental challenges. The project required joint Christchurch City Council and regional council consent. Communication, and collaboration were instrumental in navigating the complex statutory environment in securing necessary coastal permits, ensuring the project’s compliance with environmental and planning standards. The Pathway has transformed into a vibrant esplanade, attracting everyone from runners and cyclists to kayakers and birdwatchers. It is anticipated to draw over a million users annually, including tourists, becoming a symbol of resilience, community spirit, and ecological awareness. Linking Christchurch’s southeastern suburbs, it underscores the pathway’s vital role in enhancing community connectivity and environmental appreciation.
Planz Consultants is an award-winning planning consultancy with staff in Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and Whangārei, specialising in planning and resource consent. Our experienced team have the knowledge and contacts to help you get your next project across the line. We also play a leading role in a range of statutory planning and large-scale strategic projects both within the city and further afield.
Our Collaborative Approach
We work in an advisory partnership with our clients to help them make important decisions that often have significant financial and environmental implications. This begins at the very first meeting, where we are able to quickly evaluate the project and establish the issues involved.
From there, we recommend an appropriate strategy to give clients the best possible chance of achieving their objectives, regularly re-evaluating to address issues as they arise. Effective communication is the key to minimising any delays or frustrations.
We have built strong working relationships with other service providers and local authority staff throughout New Zealand to maximise the service we provide to our clients.
We are highly experienced in guiding major projects through the consenting process, from multi-building inner city precincts to sports stadiums and large rural-based infrastructure projects. We also have extensive experience in developing structure plans for greenfield growth areas and the development of pragmatic, effective City Plan provisions under the Resource Management Act relating to urban growth, business parks, high-density housing, mixed-use areas, and heritage properties.
The successful development of both consenting and policy projects involves close collaboration with clients, government agencies, and council officers to ensure a high level of political and stakeholder understanding and support.