On Thursday 27 November, the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board will receive an information session on the Whakatā Cemetery project. This is for information only and no decisions will be made. At a later decision meeting, all submitters will have the opportunity to speak to elected members. We will let you know when this is being scheduled.

Thanks to everyone who submitted feedback on this project

We received a total of 51 submissions about Whakatā Cemetery, from 46 individuals and the following organisations:

• Templeton Residents Association
• Templeton RSA
• Kirant Society of New Zealand Incorporated
• Dharma Yodha New Zealand Incorporated
• Disabled Persons Assembly New Zealand

What you told us

Overall, 38% of submitters supported the plans, 22% somewhat supported, and 30% did not support.

• The 30% who did not support the plans were all Templeton residents or businesses.
• 83% of submitters outside of Templeton supported the plans.

What submitters liked about the plan:

• That it provides a park-like asset/the landscaping (15)
• That it responds to diverse needs (10)
• The layout (6)
• That it seems peaceful (6)

What submitters didn't like was:

• Increased traffic resulting from the development, with impacts particularly on Kirk Road which some locals described as already dangerous (11)
• Fears of the cemetery devaluing local properties including through proximity to a cemetery and loss of view (8)
• Safety concerns surrounding the cemetery i.e. anti-social behaviour (7)
• The infant burial area being inappropriate due to its close proximity to young families and/or the school (7)
• The pathway being too close to residential property on Roydon Drive (5)

Submitters requested:

• Phase 2 to be developed first (8)
• For existing traffic issues (particularly on Kirk Road) to be addressed prior to adding more traffic to the area (6)

You can read more about what we heard in the meeting agenda below, which includes the staff report. To read all the feedback we received, look at the submission table below.

The plans as consulted on, and the amended version are available on the agenda for the Community Board information session.

Information session details

Staff will be briefing the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board on the Whakatā Cemetery project.

Date: Thursday 27 November

Time: from 3pm

Venue: Horoeka Room, Rārākau: Riccarton Centre, 199 Clarence Street, Christchurch

This is a public meeting, and everyone is welcome. However, there is no opportunity to speak as it is an information session only. All submitters will have the opportunity to speak to decision-makers at a later point in this process.

You can read the meeting agenda, including the staff report and any additional information, online at councillive.ccc.govt.nz

We will update all submitters on the next steps following this information session.