The Press 27 Dec 2010
Squaring the oval
The proposal to construct a test cricket ground in South Hagley Park sets up a potent clash of interests that will produce a classic Christchurch row.
In opposition are two entrenched groups that can trace their origins back to the foundation of the city: those who love cricket – and particularly the test variety – and those who cherish the great park. Neither will spare its shot in a battle over those fundamental Christchurch things.
Hagley and cricket have been entwined since the first year of the colony – 1851 – when the Christchurch Cricket Club and the park were formed and the game played on the tussocky sward. Since then, Hagley has always hosted cricket – sometimes international cricket.
What drove tests away was the need to extract ticket money from onlookers, and for that a fenced and gated ground was needed. Lancaster Park provided the needed moneymaking facilities and became the settled venue for many memorable test matches over the decades.
But the times have changed for cricket. Its test match variety – with its slow evolution over several days and periods of tedium to all but the aficionados – does not pull the crowds as the shorter versions do. Needed is a small-capacity ground with access only by way of turnstiles.
Canterbury Cricket has sweated over the problem and found nothing to suit its needs, other than the current proposal to build embankments around Hagley Oval and construct facilities for the media, players and administrators.
The plan has value. Implemented, it would allow Christchurch to again regularly be host of test cricket – for the first time since 2006 – and maintain citizens’ interest of the greatest version of the game. It would also allow central city residents and those working in the central business district the opportunity to indulge themselves with that pleasurable diversion of dropping in to see a session of a cricket test match.
No-one would deny that happy combination of amenity and public interest were it not for the sacred status of Hagley Park. A great many citizens regard its unimpeded expanse and openness to all as a fundamental contributor to the quality of life in Christchurch.
That passionate sentiment was famously demonstrated in the successful battle to keep a multi-lane highway from bisecting the park – a battle that defeated a mayor and established people power as a strong force in the city.
The cricket proposal is running headlong into the camp of the Hagley preservationists. They are articulate and persuasive, and they have the clout to maintain their position through every court in the land. They also have an effective case to put.
The new cricket ground would radically change the look of South HagleyPark: the embankments would be 1.8 metres high and the facilities building would be three storeys high with a large footprint. This would clutter the vista that the park presents today.
The proposal has suddenly come to the attention of the wider public, and this has produced the accusation that the plan has been hatched in secret. That is not the case. Its evolution has been regularly reported by The Press. It is also incorrect that the public is not being consulted. That will happen next year.
The arguments will not be harmonious. The passion behind this issue means that reaching broad agreement will be as hard a squaring the oval
· The Press 4 Jan 2011
Wrong priorities
Squaring the oval
The proposal to construct a test cricket ground in South Hagley Park sets up a potent clash of interests that will produce a classic Christchurch row.
In opposition are two entrenched groups that can trace their origins back to the foundation of the city: those who love cricket – and particularly the test variety – and those who cherish the great park. Neither will spare its shot in a battle over those fundamental Christchurch things.
Hagley and cricket have been entwined since the first year of the colony – 1851 – when the Christchurch Cricket Club and the park were formed and the game played on the tussocky sward. Since then, Hagley has always hosted cricket – sometimes international cricket.
What drove tests away was the need to extract ticket money from onlookers, and for that a fenced and gated ground was needed. Lancaster Park provided the needed moneymaking facilities and became the settled venue for many memorable test matches over the decades.
But the times have changed for cricket. Its test match variety – with its slow evolution over several days and periods of tedium to all but the aficionados – does not pull the crowds as the shorter versions do. Needed is a small-capacity ground with access only by way of turnstiles.
Canterbury Cricket has sweated over the problem and found nothing to suit its needs, other than the current proposal to build embankments around Hagley Oval and construct facilities for the media, players and administrators.
The plan has value. Implemented, it would allow Christchurch to again regularly be host of test cricket – for the first time since 2006 – and maintain citizens’ interest of the greatest version of the game. It would also allow central city residents and those working in the central business district the opportunity to indulge themselves with that pleasurable diversion of dropping in to see a session of a cricket test match.
No-one would deny that happy combination of amenity and public interest were it not for the sacred status of Hagley Park. A great many citizens regard its unimpeded expanse and openness to all as a fundamental contributor to the quality of life in Christchurch.
That passionate sentiment was famously demonstrated in the successful battle to keep a multi-lane highway from bisecting the park – a battle that defeated a mayor and established people power as a strong force in the city.
The cricket proposal is running headlong into the camp of the Hagley preservationists. They are articulate and persuasive, and they have the clout to maintain their position through every court in the land. They also have an effective case to put.
The new cricket ground would radically change the look of South HagleyPark: the embankments would be 1.8 metres high and the facilities building would be three storeys high with a large footprint. This would clutter the vista that the park presents today.
The proposal has suddenly come to the attention of the wider public, and this has produced the accusation that the plan has been hatched in secret. That is not the case. Its evolution has been regularly reported by The Press. It is also incorrect that the public is not being consulted. That will happen next year.
The arguments will not be harmonious. The passion behind this issue means that reaching broad agreement will be as hard a squaring the oval
· The Press 4 Jan 2011
Wrong priorities
How can the Christchurch City Council justify spending a million dollars developing a test cricket ground on Hagley Oval after what’s happened to the city this year? They need to get their priorities right.
How can they, in combination with Canterbury Cricket, even think of ruining this historic ground for the sake of gaining a test match once every three or four years? For over a hundred years this oval has been used by local cricketers, and what a pleasure it is every Saturday to see players of all ages and varying ability using this facility.
This will practically disappear if this project goes ahead because a high bank will engulf a lot of the ground and restrict its use. Many local cricketers won’t play test cricket.
Leave Hagley Park be and use the already developed Village Green.
GARRY STRAW
Bromley
The Press 25 Dec 2010
Must consult citizens about Hagley Park development
In August 2007, following a comprehensive review of numerous proposals, including some 600 public submissions, the CCC announced a new master plan for the management of Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens.
Twenty-four proposed projects were adopted and seven projects rejected. Among those rejected was enclosing the Hagley cricket oval with a fence.
How is it that we now have a proposal for a new major development, including enclosing the existing cricket ground with a 1.8-metre-high embankment?
Given the exhaustive public consultation followed in 2007, for the council to now suggest it need consult only with directly affected neighbours is a serious breach of faith and an insult to the many Christchurch citizens who contributed to the master plan.
By any standards the cricket ground proposal is a major development, and if approved will have a significant impact on the park’s inherent landscape character and considerable implications for public access and use.
Few cities in the world can boast such a magnificent and vast area of green open space at their heart, as provided by the park.
The Reserve Ordinance passed in 1856 declared that ‘‘the land commonly known as Hagley Park, shall be reserved forever as a public park and shall be open for the recreation and enjoyment of the public’’.
This council, as present guardian, needs to be reminded of the park’s original purpose, and also the passion with which citizens have always defended their right to be consulted on any matter that might compromise the park’s inherent character and purpose. Canterbury Cricket. Then there was a proposal to build a special cricket facility in the Christ’s College grounds of South Hagley Park, which was soundly rejected by the community and the CCC Hagley Park Development Plan.
Now there is a proposal to construct an amphitheatre in South Hagley Park made up of thousands of tons of fill and soil – an environmental barrier restricting access to this beautiful public space.
They are also proposing a three-storey building with a footprint and floor area that far exceeds the existing High School Old Boys’ facilities, when the same CCC Hagley Park Development Plan says there should be no more building in Hagley Park.
For an officer of the Christchurch City Council to suggest that parking is not an issue is also ridiculous – just ask hospital workers, attendees at the Canterbury Horticultural Society, Hagley College students and visitors to the park.
They know there is a huge shortage of parking now, without trying to accommodate the additional parking that will be required for the new hospital development and the increasing number of school sports.
NEIEL DRAIN Burnside IAIN CLARK Manager Canterbury Horticultural Society Central Christchurch WAI WONG Burnside
The Press · 25 Dec 2010
Not consulted
Who made the decision to use Hagley Oval as a cricket test venue? New Zealand Cricket, the Canterbury Cricket Association or the city council?
As Carole Anderton rightly pointed out (Dec 21), there has been no apparent consultation on a project that would change the character of Christchurch’s iconic open space.
Is it appropriate to create a test venue at the oval? It is a natural oval, in its entirety. Lopping off one quarter (there are four prepared wicket blocks) and establishing seating – temporary or permanent? – will put the other blocks out of action, except possibly the southernmost one.
The obvious alternative is QE11 Village Green. It is too small as a test arena, but two sides of the grassed banking can be shifted and the stand/pavilion can be relocated.
Unlike the oval, there is ample on-site parking and the outfield is beautifully grassed. And it would be a permanent venue.
It was a pleasure to play on the oval in my youth. It was and still is, with Elmwood Park, the finest venue for club cricket in Christchurch. Let’s keep it that way. disasters have (without undue delay) resulted in multi-million dollars of aid from New Zealand.
JIM HUDSON Burnside RICK SAMUELS Hillsborough MURRAY HORTON Secretary, Cafca Central Christchurch
The Press · 21 Dec 2010
Our trust abused
It beggars belief that the community hasn’t been consulted on plans to install a cricket oval in Hagley Park. And to learn that engineers have already prepared detailed plans and the ground is to be opened next year makes the suggestion of previous consultation ridiculous and is a further abuse of trust that we have come to expect from the city council.
Has anyone stopped to consider what a cricket oval would look like? Its high banks would block the natural flow and vista of the green open space that earned us the title of the Garden City, all for the sake of three or four games of cricket a year.
QEII was expensively renovated for cricket use, so why can’t it be upgraded?
As a passionate champion and supporter of Christchurch’s parks and gardens, I urge that this plan is scrapped now.
Our visionary forefathers blessed us by designing Christchurch around a beautiful green open space that is the envy of countries around the world. Hagley Park belongs to every one of us and should never be considered in terms of land for development – ever.
CAROLE ANDERTON Addington
The Press 17 Dec 2010
For the seagulls
The CCC should not be spending $1m doing up Hagley Oval for test matches. The clappedout cricketers need only a few old apple cases dotted around the boundary. It won’t be long before the seagulls outnumber the spectators at test cricket.
The CCC should fund a new Lake William, adjacent to Lake Victoria, with a revolving stage on water where the ratepayers could enjoy concerts. It could even incorporate that what-do-you-call it flower
CHRIS BRADY Papanui
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