“Patrick and the team at Global Research provided valuable early advice when we were designing the best approach to consultation, engagement and communication, provided further valuable advice as engagement and communication progressed and provided a quality product at the end to capture everything that was said at workshops and through consultation. This information was utilised by the planners to further inform decision making, and was very useful given the compressed timeframes for the project. The processes followed and information gathered was extremely valuable, and has since been tested in the High Court and found to be robust. Under challenge from a land developer, the High Court recently held that “the Minister and UDS partners made admirable efforts to consult, engage and communicate widely as part of the preparation of the LURP”, the work from GR formed a key component of that consultation.”
Background and aims
Christchurch was devastated by earthquakes in 2011. This significantly disrupted residential and business land supply, as some land could no longer be lived or worked on.
The Environment Canterbury Regional Council (ECAN) & Partners were tasked with putting land use policies and rules in place to assist rebuilding and recovery of communities (including housing and businesses).
Broad engagement with the community was desired to identify interests and issues to inform the Land Use Recovery Plan (LURP).
Our role
Global Research designed and managed the capture and analysis of public comment to inform the LURP within very short timeframes.
Design and method
Facilitated public workshops began with a formal presentation, then participants provided comment via transcribed group discussions and post-it note exercises. Comprehensive written submissions and an online survey captured further detailed comment. All information was included and analysed within one project.
Result
In total 443 participants commented on the draft Plan: 251 people attended workshops; 148 provided letter or form submissions and 64 completed the online survey.
All comments were synthesised into a report which planners used to revise the draft plan. The LURP, including the drafting of two Plan iterations, consultation and Gazettal was completed in around 12 months.
Outcome
Greater Christchurch has one current, consolidated Land Use Recovery Plan to inform land use planning decisions in Christchurch for the next 15 years.