Submissions

To: Christchurch City Council
Date: February 2025

Purpose

The submission’s primary purpose is to express strong support for the proposed improvements, recognising that they will make the crossing significantly safer and more accessible for all pedestrians, particularly disabled and older individuals. DPA also aims to provide a specific, practical recommendation regarding landscaping to ensure continuous safety and navigability within the upgraded area.

Summary of DPA submission

DPA expresses strong support for all the recommendations made by the Council. DPA views this project as a positive initiative, primarily due to its focus on making the changes inclusive and accessible for everyone, including disabled people.

The proposed improvements, which DPA fully endorses, include: upgrading and raising the existing zebra crossing by 100mm to enhance pedestrian safety; adding red paint on the approach to make the crossing more obvious to vehicles; placing a kerb buildout on the southwest side to level the surface around a tree; and installing tactile pavers (textured ground surfaces) to assist blind and low vision pedestrians. DPA believes these features collectively will render the crossing a "truly accessible and safe space for disabled people" in Selwyn Village.

DPA commends the Christchurch City Council's ongoing program of pedestrian and roading upgrades, noting that these consistently seek to incorporate inclusivity and safety as core principles. This aligns with DPA's broader advocacy for Universal Design.

Key Recommendation/Finding:

DPA recommends that any landscaping around the crossing is regularly pruned to enable safe navigation for all pedestrians, including disabled pedestrians.

Supporting Statement 1:

"The planting of new trees which will include a mix of species... care is taken with tree roots so that they don’t protrude and that trees are placed so that they do not impede the visibility of pedestrians and motorists or drop too much debris onto the footpaths."