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Christchurch City Council Mahere Rautaki ā tau: Draft Annual Plan 2025/26

Posted in Regional, Submission; Tagged Emergency management, Parks and recreation, Accessibility; Posted 18 months ago by DPA Less than a minute to read

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To: Christchurch City Council
Date: March 2025

 

Purpose

This submission’s primary purpose is to advocate for the needs of the city's disabled population to be adequately addressed within the annual budget. DPA focuses on ensuring that investments in council services and infrastructure, particularly transport, physical environments, and climate resilience, are safe, inclusive, and accessible for all residents, recognising that disabled people are a significant and growing demographic in Canterbury.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA feels it is a good annual plan. DPA supports the proposed capital spend of $736.1 million in 2025/26, seeing it as a worthwhile commitment that will boost the city’s economy and infrastructure. They reiterate the need for all infrastructure, especially roads, footpaths, community facilities, and transport, to be safe, inclusive, and accessible for everyone, including disabled people. DPA supports the extension of public transport to increase accessibility for all Christchurch residents and to combat climate change.

DPA also supports Council’s proposal to fund its own study into the viability of a central city shuttle service, recommending the study examines how it will complement existing bus services and incorporate accessibility for disabled people.

DPA supports the proposals to continue funding various cycleway projects, ensuring cyclists can safely access the transport network.

DPA is pleased that Council has created a Climate Resilience Fund to support future climate adaptation needs for council assets. They also strongly support the proposed increase in discounts from 25% to 30% for Community Services Card, Gold Card, and Hapai card holders for swimming pool and gym charges, acknowledging this will substantially mitigate increases for many disabled users who are often on low incomes.

DPA expresses disappointment with the Government’s de-prioritisation of investment in public transport. They recommend that Council continue to invest the maximum amount it can on pedestrian, cycleway, and micromobility improvements, even in the absence of full government funding. DPA stresses that climate change disproportionately impacts disabled people, identifying them as a "high priority population group" more susceptible to negative impacts of climate-related hazards.

 


Key Recommendation/Finding:

DPA recommends that Council give high priority under the Climate Resilience Fund to using it for the climate-related maintenance and upgrading of assets including footpaths, roads, council housing, parks and reserves and community facilities to maintain their accessibility.

 


Supporting Statement 1:

Disabled people are identified as a "high priority population group" who are more susceptible to the negative impacts of climate-related hazards, highlighting the urgency of this focus.

 


Supporting Statement 2:

Maintaining and upgrading these council assets ensures their continued accessibility and usability for all residents, particularly disabled people, in the face of climate risks.

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DPA Submission 2503 Christchurch City Council Draft Annual Plan 2025/2026 (DOCX)

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