Kayakers propose rapids in red zone

Canterbury white-water kayakers are lobbying to use red-zoned land for a centre providing urban rapids and emergency flood protection.

Kayakers say they can have a white-water centre built for less than $20 million, based on the Lee Valley course used in the London Olympics.

Spokesman Ian Fox said the group would investigate whether the pumps used to create rapids could be used for emergency flood management.

Christchurch was hit by severe flooding in March and April, and Christchurch City Council struggled to cope.

The white-water centre is one of about 30 projects put in the mix for the residential red zone on Evo::Space, a community brainstorming project by Eastern Vision.

White-water rafting, the money-maker in overseas models, was also on the cards, Fox said.

"We are pretty confident we can build a business case around tourism."

Preferably, the city council would run the centre, like the city's swimming pools, Fox said.

Sport Canterbury chief executive Julyan Falloon said making the flat-water sports lake and white-water centre a reality would be complex.

Money was the biggest obstacle.

". . . there is no money in sport and recreation to build it. If you compare it to ...more