Let's show the Christchurch City Council; 
•    enough heritage has already been taken in Christchurch
•    that as a community, together, we strongly disapprove of the Council's deemed intent to cash out Lancaster Park to developers. 

The future existence of Lancaster Park is at jeopardy; In time, the change's of purpose, the use on the grounds being enacted becomes permanent, the caveats which have protected the grounds for 100years no longer apply, providing the Council full control, where the grounds could then be sold and lost forever.

The Christchurch City Council has already previously shown the will to liquidate Lancaster Park for $15 million to developers. This occurred after the earthquakes, at a time the grounds could have been repaired; and the deed and associated caveats prevented the Council's Chief Executive from selling. 

Now, legislation enacted, which is intended to remove those same 100 year old protections, so that the Council, should it intend to sell, won't have the same road block next time around. However, we don’t believe this legislation, is quite yet binding, due to the deed.

Currently there are multiple installations on the grounds, existing, and under construction. Majority appear to be intentionally implemented outside the conditions of the deed, which gifted the grounds to the people of Christchurch over 100 years’ ago.

1. Planting of plants in the Southwest corner;
•    recent duckduckgo maps show a carpark logo in this location; a signal more concrete and changes could be intended.
2. Soccer field
•    positioned in summer
•    regularly marked and watered
3. Vast concrete pathways installed leading in onto, and circling around inside the sports grounds;
•    mostly used as a race test track by e-bikes and e-scooters, by dog walkers, doing circuits. 
•    the pathways constructed inside the sports ground fit no genuine purpose; simply consumes the possible sports ground surface area
4. Fencing and Power; installed before Waitangi Day, further construction works outside the use granted by the deed;
•    a play ground
•    sports viewing facilities; questionable if fit for purpose in north-eastern corner
•    3 more additional concrete pathways
5. Earth excavation has already occurred in the other corner  
•    works unknown

The Christchurch City Council's own actions show the Council has acted in bad faith, and not in the interest of the people. 
The Chief Executive continued to pursue a new ground in the City, and may have even waved all insurance monies for AMI Stadium by not repairing and continuing to seek $143million write off settlement from the insurers.  AMI Stadium could have been repaired within 2 years for $44 million. $20 million was spent upgrading Rugby League Park. $4.5million was pledged by Government for repairs to AMI Stadium, the local community  raised $1.5million for repairs, and then in the end, the Council spent another $12 million dismantling Lancaster Park.  $683 million for a new multiuse stadium that is not large enough to house Cricket.

It is imperative that action be undertaken immediately;
•    prevent further damage being done to the grounds where change of purpose is intended 
•    reduce costs for remedies required to return the grounds so use fulfils the caveats of the deed. 

Your support here, and by helping raise public awareness, will contribute to our success;
1.    seeking an urgent injunction; the immediate cessation of all works.  - preventing further damage done to the grounds. 
2.    seeking an order that honours the original deed; returns control of the grounds to an elected public board of trustees; those with strong heritage links to the region, and ratifies heritage protections for the entire grounds.

The deed; the grounds must continue to be a sports ground, specifically, Cricket and Rugby.  Other events, 'only’ permitted from time to time.  
•    above should sound familiar to most; it is purpose of how the Lancaster Park Ground’s have always been used, since at least 1919 'Victory Park Act’ could be used, was included into New Zealand legislation; where the Grounds in its entirety were vested to the King (by both Canterbury Cricket, and Canterbury Rugby Football Union, as a memorial to those whom perished in WWI.  - consider for yourself  why is it recently; the Christchurch City Council only recognise the 1919 gates installed later than that year, and a minor aspect of the grounds, as a heritage site . . .; Because they cannot put houses on a Heritage site. . . . 

Let’s ensure, Lancaster Park remains a proud place in Canterbury’s Heritage.  That must include elimination of any risk an unelected Chief Executive of the Council can liquidate the grounds.  The Council should not have control over Lancaster Park, the deed protects the peoples interests, previously from what is seen occurring.

A new Trustee Board needs to be formed, historical protections set for the entire grounds, and all planned expenditures for the Lancaster Park grounds to be reallocated to remedies, and possibly the construction of a western stand, or embankment, on Lancaster Parks Cricket ground.

 
If you wish to get more involved, please get in contact. 

info@urvalour.nz

We are also fund raising funds for the legal costs in bringing actions against Christchurch City Council before the High Court.  If you have the means, and would like to assist, please visit our give a little page; we will add it here once completed. 

 Thanks for your support.  

Valour Canterbury