A RIVER RUNS THROUGH

Once filled with over 70 homes, Christchurch’s Avon Loop has been a quieter but no less loved part of the central city post-earthquakes. Cyclists, pedestrians, and dog walkers, in particular, have continued to meander along the battered asphalt, enjoying the riverside views.

Now what’s underfoot has been dramatically improved with Ōtākaro Limited creating a 700-metre shared pathway along Oxford Terrace, between Willow Street and Kilmore Street (or Pomeroy’s Pub if you’re more familiar with that).

The upgrade of the Avon Loop is essentially an extension of the already famous paved City Promenade that runs through the CBD, creating a riverside walkway from the Hospital to Fitzgerald Avenue for locals and visitors to enjoy. In time, the Loop will also connect the completed City Promenade and any developments in the Residential Red Zone further east.

A focus of Ōtākaro’s work has been making the river a more prominent feature within the city. The terraced steps, eel habitats, and punt stops already incorporated into the City Promenade have given people more opportunities to get down to the water’s edge.

The addition of the central city’s first dedicated canoe and kayak launching ramp in the Avon Loop, easy entry and exit and a stabilised riverbed footing, offers another way to enjoy the iconic Avon River. The ramp has received rave reviews from keen paddlers who have welcomed the replacement of the “rickety old thing” on offer prior to the earthquakes.

For a more sedate outing, the area also now includes a stunning boardwalk made of Purple Heart hardwood. New seating has been scattered throughout the Loop, so you don’t feel the need to rush the journey.

Around 17,000 plants are about to be added to the area to further remove you from the pace of the central city, but not all the greenery will be new. Come Spring you will notice the return of some familiar daffodils, planted by a river warden/guerrilla gardener, Ross Edgar, more than a decade ago. Before work started, the bulbs were thoughtfully removed by members of the Avon Loop Planning Association and have now been replanted around the entrances to the boardwalk.

The Avon Loop is an excellent example of what a regenerated city should look like, the places we’ve long known and enjoyed injected with some additional wow factor.