1. Shirley Community Centre – Expressions of Interest (16 September 2026)
https://ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/public-notices/show/1432
“Christchurch City Council is seeking a community organisation to lease, manage and activate the new Shirley Community Centre at 10 Shirley Road.
The new community facility is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Council is inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably experienced community organisations interested in operating the Centre as a welcoming, accessible and affordable facility for the Shirley community and surrounding areas.
The successful organisation will be responsible for managing and activating the Centre, including community bookings, programmes and activities, and agreed day-to-day operational responsibilities.
The Centre must remain available for broad community use.
Expressions of Interest close 5pm, Monday 19 October 2026.”
2. Shirley Community Facility Feasibility Study (2019)
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/shirley-centre-positives/
7.3 Community Needs Analysis for Richmond
– Lack of low cost, creative and fun activities for after-school and school holidays.
– Mental health needs (adults through to children identified as a gap).
– Need for improved playground facilities across Richmond targeting pre-schoolers and small children.
8. Need and Gap Assessment, Summary of Need
– With an aging population, it is important to also consider what has been lost that would be of value to older adults.
– Secular Bumping space (for casual interactions and cross-over between activities and areas) for adults like that provided in libraries.
– With increases in younger populations in some areas continued and increased provision could include:
School and pre-school age play, game and playground area space, linked in particular to young people population growth mainly in Shirley and Edgeware.
11. Ownership, Governance and Management Review, Governance and Trusts as vehicles to drive Community Outcomes
– One key issue is how to gain a level of co-ordination of efforts across these neighbourhoods.
– Each Trust and its umbrella collectives in the area has a limited reach that naturally extends to the boundary of the neighbourhood they serve…
Table 9. Governance options toward increased activation of 10 Shirley Road
Option ‘Support an existing Trust’, Negatives of approach:
– Unfavourable treatment of one Trust over others.
– Not one Trust that spans these two neighbourhoods.
– Would be either Church or Non-church aligned.
– That trust would not necessarily hold the vision (Community Plan) for the whole area.
Option ‘All comers’ Approach’, Positives of approach:
– Perceived as fair.
– Council is not partisan.
Option ‘All comers’ Approach’, Negatives of approach:
– Council will need to manage the community planning process on behalf of community groups.
– Councils role does not cover Welfare, Crime, Social and Housing areas directly.
3. Shirley Community Reserve Development Plan Consultation Feedback
The information in this section below was included in my Consultation Feedback Document:
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ShirleyCommunityReserveDevelopmentSept2026JoannaGould.pdf
F. Reserve Activation
F.1. Christchurch City Libraries | Shirley Library
– Although the Board made the decision not to incorporate the Shirley Library into the new Reserve building, the ‘Shirley Library’ activities could be relocated & run from this location: accessible, centrally located Open Green Space.
– The Shirley Community Reserve is located in North Richmond on Shirley Road.
The former Shirley Community Centre attracted locals and residents from other parts of the city, due to its accessible location by main arterial roads & public transport.
– The Shirley Library/The Palms car park, is one of the busiest suburban libraries in Christchurch, yet has no bookable Learning Spaces or Meeting Rooms.
– Activities are provided in between bookshelves or by moving the book bins in the Children’s area to create space for Wā Pēpi-Babytimes & Wā Kōrero-Storytimes (highest number of attendees in Christchurch).
– The Shirley Library provides the most activities per location, compared to other local community facilities.
– Community Engagement Librarians are ‘information specialists’, trained outreach professionals with local knowledge, that deliver these mostly free activities/programmes to Shirley, Dallington, Richmond, Edgeware & Mairehau residents.
– The distinctive ‘Mobile Library Waka Hau–kōrero Van’ could be parked in the adjacent car park to the new Reserve building & would highlight to the community when ‘Shirley Library’ activities are running in the Reserve.
– “Christchurch residents have access to library services via mobile library vans servicing the community, visiting a range of locations and providing a portable social, recreational and learning space…promoting access to library services through community events and activities.”
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/mobile/
– Bringing the ‘Mobile Library Waka Hau–kōrero Van’ to the Reserve, would help engage with those residents who rarely access a library, have library anxiety, get overwhelmed by sensory sensitivities, or avoid going to The Palms/Shirley Library due to the busy car park & no dedicated car parking.
F.2. Auahatanga – Creative Spaces
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/creative-spaces/
– Christchurch City Libraries has dedicated Auahatanga Creative Spaces located at:
Tūranga, Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre & Matatiki Hornby Centre.
– There are no permanent opportunities in the East for residents to learn new skills, develop their creativity & connect with other creative people in their communities.
– Creative/Technology activities could be provided by the Libraries Team, in the new Reserve building.
– The Christchurch City Libraries ‘Auahatanga Mobile Van’ brings creative technology, innovation, and hands-on learning directly into local communities.
– Parking the distinctive van in the adjacent car park to the new Reserve building & would highlight to the community when ‘Auahatanga – Creative Spaces’ activities are running in the Reserve.
– Opportunity to speak directly with Library Staff about the tech, tools, and resources available at permanent Auahatanga spaces around Christchurch.
F.3. Ō Tātou Wāhi Our Spaces
– New Button for ‘Shirley Centre’?
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/bookable-spaces/
– When the new Reserve building isn’t being activated by the ‘Shirley Library’ Team, residents/community groups/schools/organisations are able to book these spaces online through ‘Ō Tātou Wāhi Our Spaces’.
https://ccc.govt.nz/culture-and-community/our-spaces/our-spaces-booking-information
https://bookings.ccc.govt.nz/bookingportal/Booking/Casual#/facility
F.4. New Reserve Building Users
– Our local Community Engagement Librarians are ‘information specialists’.
Familiar trusted local faces that are already engaged with our local communities through our schools, rest homes, community events etc.
They are able to promote the Reserve facilities available, when asked at the Shirley Library for suggestions on available community facilities, plus help with online bookings through ‘Ō Tātou Wāhi Our Spaces’.
– Librarians will be able to created & provide new groups/activities, based on residents interest & feedback.
– Better location for Wā Pēpi-Babytimes & Wā Kōrero-Storytimes, opportunities to utilize inside the building, E.7. ‘Grass’ & E.5. ‘Play’ Zone.
– ‘Reading to Dogs’ can be held inside the building or outside on the E.7. ‘Grass’ Zone.
– Privacy for residents needing ‘JP Clinic’ or ‘TechMate’ services, with options to use either Meeting Room.
– ‘Canterbury Genealogy’ can come back ‘home’, for their Saturday ‘Family History Help’ sessions.
– ‘After School Activity Zone’ & ‘Study Zone’ for different age groups, with Youth organisations utilizing the Meeting Rooms, plus E.7. ‘Grass’ & E.5. ‘Play’ Zone.
– More space for Kidsfest & School Holiday programmes (away from The Palms, less stress to spend $) .
4. Shirley Library | Current Activities
– Keep the current ‘Passive/Quiet’ activities located at the Shirley Library: Cards, Board Games, Book Discussion etc.
– Relocate the current ‘Active/Noisy’ activities to the new building on the Reserve, where attendees can utilize the indoor/outdoor spaces available at the Reserve.
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/reserve-development-plan-feedback/
4.1. Current Activities available at Shirley Library/The Palms
https://christchurch.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?locations=SHIRLEY
– ‘Wā Pēpi-Babytimes’:
New location in the new Reserve building with opportunities to use the ‘Grass’ & ‘Play’ Zones. Opportunity to walk to this location, with space available for strollers.
– ‘Wā Kōrero-Storytimes’:
New location in the new Reserve building with opportunities to use the ‘Grass’ & ‘Play’ Zones. Opportunity to walk to this location, with space available for strollers.
– ‘Reading to Dogs’:
New location in one of the rooms in the new Reserve building.
Able to create a sensory friendly zone inside or read outside on the grass.
Quieter space with more privacy, better access with bus stops & dedicated car parking.
– ‘JP Clinic at Shirley Library’:
New location in one of the rooms in the new Reserve building. More privacy, better access with bus stops & dedicated car parking.
– ‘TechMate at Shirley Library’:
New location in one of the rooms in the new Reserve building. More privacy, better access with bus stops & dedicated car parking.
– ‘Family History Help’:
“A member of the Canterbury Genealogy Society will be available to help with your family history questions.” Bring the Society back to its original ‘home’ & more room for attendees to spread out their family history papers.
– ‘Code Club @ Shirley (8-12 years)’:
New location in the new Reserve building, centrally located between our local schools, with better access to bus stops.
– ‘Shirley Minecraft Club (8-13 years)’:
Fully Booked. Opportunity to increase the number of spaces available, in the new Reserve building, centrally located between our local schools, with better access to bus stops.
– ‘Dungeon Delvers @ Shirley (10-16 years)’:
Fully Booked. Opportunity to increase the number of spaces available, in the new Reserve building, centrally located between our local schools, with better access to bus stops.
– ‘The Great Library Seed and Plant Swap’:
The Reserve is centrally located between the MacFarlane Park Community Garden & the Richmond Community Garden, with a proposed Community Garden on site: see E.4. ‘Playcentre’ Zone (Shirley Playcentre & Shirley Primary School connection, with learning opportunities.)
4.2. Activities available at other Christchurch suburban libraries:
These activities below could be started at the new ‘Community Centre’ building, to invite more residents in the suburbs (Shirley, Dallington, Richmond, Edgeware & Mairehau) surrounding Shirley Road to the Shirley Community Reserve.
– ‘Everyday Heroes Storytimes’ (Bishopdale):
Indoor/Outdoor spaces at the Reserve & opportunity to utilise the adjacent car park for emergency vehicles & other mobile vans.
– ‘SAYGo Falls Prevention Exercise Class’ (New Brighton):
Indoor/Outdoor spaces at the Reserve with adjacent car park for attendees with mobility issues.
Opportunity to utilise the proposed ‘Move’ Zone: 5.9. Surface Challenge 3
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/reserve-development-plan-move-zone/
– ‘Citizens Advice Bureau’ (Fendalton):
Satellite clinic available weekly in the Linwood Library. The meeting rooms in the new ‘Community Centre’ building could be a new ‘Satellite clinic’ location, to support the residents living in the suburbs around Shirley Road.
– ‘Let’s Have a Cuppa!’ (Fendalton):
The new ‘Community Centre’ building has a full sized kitchen, with indoor/outdoor seating available.
Opportunity for the youngest & oldest residents in our communities to connect.
– ‘Afterschool Activity Zone’ (Redwood):
The new ‘Community Centre’ building is opposite Shirley Primary School, with Shirley Intermediate & Pareawa Banks Avenue School, within walking distance of the Reserve.
– ‘Teen Takeover’ (Papanui):
Mairehau High School is located off Hills Road & with the bus stops located outside the Reserve on Shirley Road, Youth who attend schools ‘out of zone’, have the opportunity to mix with other local Youth living in the area.
– ‘Sensory Hour’ (Redwood):
Shirley Library at The Palms does not have a ‘Sensory Hour’.
Getting to the Shirley Library through The Palms car park, is an overwhelming experience for a person with sensory sensitivities.
Utilise the new ‘Community Centre’ building to create a ‘Sensory Hour’, providing appropriate neurodiversity books for children/teens/adults/parents/caregivers, in a sensory friendly environment with access to the proposed fully fenced ‘Play’ Zone.
5. Other Potential Reserve Users
– Eastern Community Sport and Recreation (Avon Hub, 77 North Parade)
Pop-up Events, After School activities, Holiday Programmes, utilising the proposed ‘Play’ & ‘Move’ Zones at the Reserve.
https://www.easterncommunity.co.nz/facilities/avon-hub
– Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust (New Hub: 126 North Parade)
The new ‘Community Centre’ building could be used for Group Programmes.
Centrally located, accessible by bus & opportunity to utilise the proposed ‘Move’ Zone.
https://www.lfbit.co.nz/services/group-programmes/
– Ferndale Te Ahu School (New Base School: North Parade)
New specialist school for high-needs students, next to Pareawa Banks Avenue School in North Parade, Richmond.
The new ‘Community Centre’ building & proposed fully fenced ‘Play’ Zone could be used by students/teachers/therapists/support staff.
https://www.ferndale.school.nz/blog
– Autism NZ – Canterbury & West Coast (250 Westminster Street)
The new ‘Community Centre’ building could be used by Outreach Coordinators for meetings, Education Programmes, Support & Social Groups.
Centrally located, accessible by bus & opportunity to utilise the proposed fully fenced ‘Play’ Zone.
https://autismnz.org.nz/support-locations/canterbury-west-coast/
– Age Concern Canterbury
New location for ‘SayGo (Steady as You Go) Falls Prevention Exercise Programme’.
Many of the current Christchurch locations are fully booked, with a waitlist.
Centrally located, accessible by bus & opportunity to utilise the proposed ‘Move’ Zone: 5.9. Surface Challenge 3.
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/reserve-development-plan-move-zone/
https://ageconcerncan.org.nz/courses-and-groups/falls-prevention/
– GenConnect (Connecting generations by sharing knowledge)
Mairehau High School students could create this programme at the new ‘Community Centre’ building, after school or on the weekends.
“Come and get help with your technology issues at Upper Riccarton Library, where Riccarton High School students will be available every Thursday during term time. High school students offer help during their lunch hour & in the holidays, the programme is run by library staff.”
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/genconnect/
– Imagination Station (Lego & STEAM activities)
New location for Pop-up Events & School Holiday classes, currently available at the following libraries: Tūranga, Fendalton & New Brighton.
https://imagination-station.org.nz/collections/school-holiday-classes
– KidsFest (Winter School Holiday Programmes & Activities)
New location for Bookable & Drop-in Events.
Centrally located, accessible by bus & opportunity to utilise the proposed ‘Play’ & ‘Move’ Zones at the Reserve.
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/kidsfest/
– Te Mātāpuna Mātātahi Children’s University
New ‘Learning Destination’ for activities to log in your ‘Passport to Learning’ through “discovery trails, days out with rangers, scavenger hunts and planting days.”
New ‘GoBots’ games app location utilising the proposed ‘Play’ & ‘Move’ Zones, plus Dudley Creek.
https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/learning-resources/gobots
https://ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/learning-projects-and-programmes/childrensuniversityparks
– CCC ‘Learning Through Action’ Programmes
“Free environmental and city programmes provide authentic learning experiences through hands-on activities.”
New location at the Shirley Community Reserve with Dudley Creek.
Centrally located to local schools, accessible by bus & opportunity to have indoor/outdoor learning experiences.
https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/learning-resources/learning-through-action
– Kingdom Resources
Centrally located, accessible by bus, new location at the new ‘Community Centre’ building for courses:
‘Money Education’ https://kingdomresources.org.nz/moneymates/ &
‘Taking the First Step’ Confidence and Pre-Employment course for Women:
https://kingdomresources.org.nz/pre-employment-course/
Meeting rooms available for the “opportunity to have an individual chat with a Kingdom Resources Financial Mentor.”
https://kingdomresources.org.nz/money-help/
– Christchurch Resettlement Services
Centrally located, accessible by bus, new Satellite clinic location in the new ‘Community Centre’ building, to provide “core services to enhance the resettlement of people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.”
https://crs.org.nz/services
– Te Tumu Waiora Canterbury
Centrally located, accessible by bus, new Satellite clinic location in the new ‘Community Centre’ building, for Health Improvement Practitioners (HIP), Health Coaches & Support Workers to help people with their wellbeing and mental health.
Opportunity to utilise the Meeting Rooms & proposed ‘Move’ Zone at the Reserve.
https://www.tetumuwaioracanterbury.co.nz/
– Te Tahi Youth (Life + Wellbeing Support)
Centrally located, accessible by bus, new Satellite clinic location in the new ‘Community Centre’ building.
‘Building Confidence Through Movement’: New Fitness & Wellbeing Programme.
“Delivered from The Loft at Eastgate Mall, the programme combines physical activity with practical wellbeing support.
Participants will be supported by experienced youth workers and health professionals, with access to Te Tahi nurses throughout the programme.”
Opportunity to utilise the Meeting Rooms & proposed ‘Move’ Zone at the Reserve.
https://tetahiyouth.org.nz/2026/04/building-confidence-through-movement-new-fitness-wellbeing-programme/
– Puāwai-Kai (previously known as ‘Appetite for Life’)
Centrally located, accessible by bus, new location in the new ‘Community Centre’ building, for “Puāwai – Kai (Lifestyle Education & Cooking) is a free healthy lifestyle course for all ages. It runs for eight sessions, two hours per week. It is delivered in small groups of up to 16 participants by trained facilitators.”
Opportunity to utilise the full sized Kitchen, Meeting Rooms & proposed ‘Move’ Zone at the Reserve.
https://www.puawai.org.nz/
– Pae Ora ki Waitaha (replaces the ‘Green Prescription’ in Canterbury)
Centrally located, accessible by bus, new location in the new ‘Community Centre’ building, for “Pae Ora ki Waitaha is a healthy lifestyles promotion service developed in consultation with Kaupapa Māori and Pasifika providers to support priority populations to access holistic health improvement programmes.”
Opportunity to utilise the Meeting Rooms & proposed ‘Move’ Zone at the Reserve.
https://waitaha.health.nz/health-professionals/pae-ora/
