Rebuild Christchurch as a Sustainable City

This is a very complex problem. The world is going to change quite a bit over the next 150 years. Building a city now, that will be a great place to live for at least the next seven generations is a grand vision and a worthy endeavour.  The knowledge exists of how to do this, but not the experience. The vision exists, but not the money. The desire exists, but not the leadership.  We have a lot more to do than just rebuild buildings and infrastructure. We have to invent long-term planning, long-term economics, and long-term leadership in order to get long-term sustainability.  We also need to learn how to integrate or weave together the expertise that has been built up over the past century in different disciplines. Academically, we will need to innovate this complex systems analysis capability as well. 

I have researched the re-development process, and have written some articles about how the emergence of a new city could happen for Christchurch. 

Legacy Lost, Legacy Created

The Re-Development Project

The New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities held a Urban Science Workshop with speakers who could provide different perspectives on the project of recovery from the earthquakes. You can listen to Dr. Krumdieck's short presentation HERE and get the presentation slides HERE.

Transportation
Cities develop around their internal transportation networks, and they exist because of trade with other cities.  Today, 95% of personal transportation is done by private automobile. This was not the case 70 years ago, and it will not be the case 50 years from now.  This is the biggest challenge in our long-term legacy plan for the city.  The transportation networks for Sustainable Christchurch City are not based on private vehicles. The connections to other populations are not based on highways and trucks.

Energy


Environment


Economy
There is always an economy. As long as people have the freedom to work at what they are good at, to get better and to create - then there will be an economy. As long as people can share risks and benefits, there will be an economy.  As long as people can freely engage in markets, find reward for good work and creativity, and be held accountable for the quality and fairness of their trade and services, then there will be a healthy economy.  The long-term sustainability of the economy depends on ensuring freedom, access to markets, cooperation, regulation, and transparency.  The economy of growth in consumption and exploitation of resources is a temporary and short-term vision and is not a foundation of the rebuilding of the city.

Community, Population


Structures, Construction, Homes, Buildings
Stone, brick and plaster are the vision brought from the old country.  The earth does not rupture in the old country.

Drinking Water, Sewer, Rivers


Food


Manufacturing, Processing, Production


Medical, Social and other Services


Education, University, Training


Urban/Rural Connections and Land Use


Ocean, Coast, Sea Level, Beaches, Fishing