A High Court judge has ordered the National Government to reconsider its plans to construct a multimillion dollar theme park out of Christchurch’s red zone.
The theme park, which is set to be built on the area of land ruled to be unsuitable for continued habitation, aims to inject tens of millions of dollars into the recovering city’s economy, and is forecast for completion by 2016.
But this week the High Court’s Justice Panckhurst ruled that the Government did not engage in sufficient consultation with surrounding residents before engaging in the project, and was also concerned that a series of large, mechanical structures would be built on land that was sinking.
“While the decision to construct a disaster-themed amusement park on damaged land is not, in isolation, unlawful,” read the judgement, “the lack of consultation with Christchurch residents has led the court to determine that these plans were not undertaken in accordance with due process.
“Also it is unwise to build complex moving structures on unstable ground.”
At a press conference today, One News Political Editor Corin Dann asked Prime Minister John Key why he believed the construction of a theme park would be safe when the land in question had been determined to be unsuitable for residential use.
“It’s a theme park, Corin,” said Key. “Not a house.”
Key has recently come under fire for comments he made about the land compensation process, suggesting it had “been fun.” At today’s press conference, he appeared to acknowledge why some would be offended by that, but said that the theme park was a way to share his own joy with tourists and the people of Christchurch.
“Obviously it’s not been fun for everyone,” he said. “But, you know, we’re trying to give people the opportunity to share in the fun that we’ve been having. I think if you asked most New Zealanders, they’d say ‘Right. Lawyers? Not fun. Theme parks? Yeah, loads of fun.’ I mean, think of it a bit like Norton Antivir– I mean the Gold Coast.”
Key said the last few years had been a “rollercoaster” for people in the red zone and that it was only fair that their land be used to construct “at least one actual rollercoaster.”
The Government intends to appeal the court’s decision, and if they are successful, visitors to the new theme park will soon be able to experience the intense adrenaline rush of being in a severe earthquake, followed by an excruciating and indefinite wait in long EQC lines. A kiosk will be available at the park’s exit for visitors to sell their own property to the Government at half its value.
The park will also feature a toxic siltbox play area for children, and a life-size Gerry Brownlee with four floors and a food court inside.
Asked how much money the Government intended to put toward the project, Key replied “Yes.”