Eden project for Avon River mooted
Promoters have unvelied plans for an Eden project overlooking the Avon River in Christchurch.
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Hawke’s Bay
A cleared red zone site in central Christchurch known as the Avon Loop could be the site of an Eden Project unveiled today.
The promoters of the venture include Sir Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project UK, Martin Hadlee, chairman of the Water for Life Trust, and Mick Abbott, Lincoln University associate professor of design and innovation.
In the UK the project was developed in a disused quarry featuring large glasshouse domes, which create an environment for rain forest plants.
The UK tourist attraction offers educational events with an environmental focus.
The proposed Christchurch project was outlined by Sir Tim Smit at a function at the George Hotel in the central city.
It follows a theme of how Canterbury water travels from the mountains to the sea and the social and cultural issues involved.
The concept drawings show waka-style buildings and relocated vegetation including plants left behind in the cleared properties.
The venture could have a development cost of around $100 million.
But the promoters have yet to develop any funding strategy, with the venture at the planning stage. The development may be a big task in a city where investment money for post-earthquake rebuild projects has proved challenging.
If there is sufficient interest, they will develop a feasibility study which would include funding options.
Neither have the promoters yet obtained any purchase or lease arrangement for the Avon Loop land which has been identified.
The Eden founder was invited to New Zealand by Associate Professor Abbot.
Chris Hutching
Fri, 03 Jul 2015
Fri, 03 Jul 2015
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Eden project for Avon River mooted
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