We’re planning to renew Condell Avenue between Matsons Avenue and Blighs Road

The renewal will address the poor road conditions and replace the current deep-dish channel and kerb.

We know that Condell Avenue residents have been waiting a long time for their street to be renewed so we're committed to doing this work.

We’re proposing to:

• replace the deep-dish channel with a shallow levelled kerb and channel,
• improve the streetscape and drainage,
• reconstruct the footpath and road,
• provide a narrower crossing point near the retirement villages,
• improve road markings.

We’re only proposing a limited number of improvements because we’re restricted by the Plan Change 13 (PC13) rules that designated Condell Avenue as a heritage item.

Being a heritage street

Condell Avenue is one of 16 avenues in Papanui that were planted with trees as a living memorial to soldiers who died during World War II. The original trees were planted between 1945 and 1952, however not many of the original trees remain on Condell Avenue.

The heritage status means that any alteration to Council land requires resource consent. ‘Alteration’ includes:

• permanent modification or addition to garden or landscaping layout, paths, paving, circulation or on-site access, walkways or cycle ways,
• earthworks which change the profile of the landform,
• removal or transplanting of mature trees – unless the tree is dead/structurally unsound.

To learn more about PC13, read through the timeline of updates here. The amendment to include 16 avenues as heritage streets was proposed to the Council on the 25th of September 2025.

Trees on Condell Avenue

As part of our urban forest plan for Ōtautahi Christchurch, we’ve adopted a ‘right tree, right place’ approach to tree planting that means we have to think carefully about what we plant and where. One of the considerations is the need to avoid tall trees interfering with power lines.

For this reason, the proposal for Condell Avenue includes trees on the western side only. While we considered planting shorter-growing trees on the eastern side, we concluded that having trees on just one side of the street would be better than planting a different species of tree to those on the western side.

In preparation for the street renewal, we’re reviewing the health of trees along Condell Avenue and any unhealthy trees will be removed and replaced. Our usual policy is to replace any tree we remove with two new trees, but due to the constraints we’re working within on Condell Avenue – including the heritage status, overhead wires and limited space available – we’re planning to plant new trees in the surrounding area rather than on the street itself.

The Nor’West Arc Cycleway

A small section of the Nor’West Arc cycleway is planned for Condell Avenue between Matsons Avenue and Aorangi Road intersections. We’re completing the cycleway as part of this street renewal.

A grey box is shown on the map below, while the cycleway and raised platform have already been approved by Council, the road corridor is part of this project.