Our survey on what people expect from noise in the central city has now closed. People were able to provide feedback from 4 September to 2 October 2023.

During this time, we heard from 3,399 individuals and businesses including 91 Central City businesses, 1,068 Central City residents, and 2,239 residents living in broader Christchurch. You can read a summary of feedback here, and a full analysis of feedback here.

This feedback will inform a review of how the District Plan manages the effects of different activities in the Central City, including entertainment precincts, noise limits and insulation requirements. A District Plan change is expected to be ready for consultation by 2025.

It also allows staff to understand additional support for Central City residents and businesses that may be useful in the meantime.

We are keen to further support the development of mixed use, vibrant central city neighbourhoods.

We acknowledge that this means addressing some of the noise tensions which have arisen as the central city continues to grow and evolve. We’re looking at a both regulatory and non-regulatory ways to do this.

On the regulatory side, we’re reviewing how our District Plan determines where entertainment and hospitality activities, including live music, are encouraged, and acoustic insulation requirements. Our current District Plan was created after the earthquakes when the city looked a lot different to what it does today, and we acknowledge that it's no longer fit for purpose for some areas. The review will look at how we balance happy inner-city residents and a thriving night-time economy and environment.

Your feedback will help to shape the proposed plan change which we expect to have ready for public consultation in 2025.

There are ways we can help support businesses and residents outside the District Plan and your feedback can help us define other actions. As we start to work on the proposed changes, we want to understand the thoughts of the central city community (as well as those in broader Christchurch) about current noise levels and whether there's any additional support that we can provide.