Banwell K

Dionisio R

Kingham, Simon

UC Research Repository

Building strong, resilient communities: what we learned from the Canterbury earthquakesDr Karen Banwell,1 Prof Simon Kingham,1,2  Dr Rita Dionisio.11 Tari Mātai Matawhenua | Dept of Geography, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Ōtautahi | Christchurch2 Te Manatū Waka | Ministry of Transport, Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara | WellingtonOutline• Resilient Urban Futures project―What we set out to do?―What we did?―What we found? ―What this means?Resilient Urban Futures project• New Zealand government funded (MBIE)• 4 year programme• Multi-disciplinary group of over 40 researchers• Aim― How do we develop vibrant, liveable, internationally competitive and resilient cities into the future?Christchurch study: role of place - local• What can we learn about community from post-earthquake Christchurch?• Few studies link the relationship between local neighbourhood, social networks and disasters• What is the role of place or neighbourhood in developing social networks for community resilience?ChristchurchInterviews • Key leaders/stakeholders• Residents of four suburbs with diversity of:₋ Density₋ Socio-economic status₋ Urban form ₋ Accessibility to facilities and environmentPost-earthquake response• Local  - contributes to resilience through informal response ₋ A place to organise a response - a community centre or hub₋ Leadership and access to resources₋ Know who to help• Urban form - well defined or understood boundaries₋ Local places for social interaction and information₋ Clarity of the spatial area to supportInformal response - local• Individual benefit₋ Needing to help, talk and be with others₋ Communication - getting information  ₋ Psychosocial gain• Collective benefits₋ Helping others₋ Supporting and sharing resourcesBelonging and residency – becoming a local• Longevity of tenure provides home stability• Owners and long term renters had connection with neighbours• Transience /mobility of renting negatively associated with sense of community• ‘As is where is’ housing has increased the problemChrissie: It’s the churn in tenancy that is the issue.Home and place• Home territory – and gardens• Threshold spaces – verandas and porches• New subdivisionso garages and fences, lack of large trees, lack of walkability and local amenity• Home inextricably linked to place.Denise: It can take a long time to get to the shops unlike the places with fences and garages.Natural and green• Intrinsic quality of place• Personal significance• Natural places to be alone, meander, walk the dog and meet others• Trees as features of the local environment; noted where absentGinny: Hagley is soul food for me, the natural place…. it is my replenishing timeCarole: We have Micky the dog, I meet others with dogs, the bumping into people is so importantBeth: My trees, I know them by nameStreet morphology• Noticeable differences among street types in fostering social connections• Intimate streets – cul-de-sacs, laneways, back sections• Shift to private spaces – fences and automatic garage doorsFrank: Our cul-de-sac has been great for usSandra: I realise now how few people I know on the other side of the street; I am thinking this is because it is widePhyllis: Our street is so wide we don’t know each otherWalkable – design and distance• Design: safe, attractive, connectedDebbie: Because walking somewhere you see people and that is really important to see people and have eye contact and being human togetherChris: Because you walk past you know your neighbours so I know most of the people on my side of the street• Distance: local amenityClaire: Isn’t that funny how we don’t have a name for them, given how important they [local shops] are to everyone?Gathering places• Local places of anticipated/planned interaction• Valued and helped with personal recovery• Places for purposeful social interaction• Pubs, cafes, community houses, libraries, pools and parksAndrea: It’s hard for people to engage with each other when you don’t have a meeting place to come togetherBumping places • Local and linked to walkability• Places of accidental/unplanned interaction• Streets, primary schools, local natural greenspaces and parks, community facilities, local shops, street furnitureDebs: Yes bumping into people is so important I think is what I like and that is what I connect withCommunity hubs – primary schools• Ruth: Schools pop up constantly as bumping places for mums and sometimes dads too• Libby: They are so much the hub for communities, they are so valuable and my bias of coming into this is having smaller community schools• Shelby: The school was the only bumping place for Phillipstown and then the Ministry closed it….  The Ministry did not see the school as a community hub or the importance for the community• Linda: Closing schools affects more than the school, it affects the whole community. Implications and infrastructure• Importance of local access to amenity and social infrastructure• Design/include/encourage bumping places (shared space) in new and existing urban developments• Value local community role of existing gathering places e.g. schools, churches• Roads as community spacesImplications and policy• Recognise the importance of place in planning• Planning framework needs to translate the vision of health and wellbeing, resilience and sustainability - not just hard infrastructure• Readiness for civil defence brought into planning framework• Stability of home – ownership or renting• Recognise schools within community context• Social infrastructure planned for local community• Slower speeds and reduced traffic encourage communityo Not just safety – Vision ZeroCo-benefits of ‘local’• Supports community development• Develops community resilience• Enhances health and wellbeing o saving $$ in the long term• Provides children’s access to local environments• Saves on infrastructure costs• Works towards environmental and social sustainabilityFinal thoughts• Place (geography) and streetscape affect community development (and health and wellbeing)• We can plan to create resilient, sustainable and healthy local urban communities• Social infrastructure important for enhancing community and improving health (e.g. bumping and gathering spaces)• Multiple co-benefits of investing in local community – healthAlan: If you have to get into your car it’s not localThanksProf Simon Kingham Dr Karen Banwell simon.kingham@canterbury.ac.nz karen.banwell@gmail.coms.kingham@transport.govt.nz@SimonKinghamAcknowledgements• Research participants• MBIE and the Resilient Urban Futures (RUF) project • Profs Philippa Howden-Chapman, Karen Witten & Robin Kearns

Building strong, resilient communities: what we learned from the Canterbury earthquakes

https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/103363/2/EQ%20Symposium%20BANWELL%20%26%20KINGHAM%20Nov%202018.pdf

Building strong, resilient communities: what we learned from the Canterbury earthquakes

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