The problem with nesting began in the foundations of the Armagh Street building in 2019. Today, the area is overrun by red-billed and black-billed gulls which have returned to the area en masse to nest.

In a scene that sounds reminiscent of the rat takeover in Hamelin before the Pied Piper's arrival, gulls steal food off plates, poo on tables, buildings, cars and people, frighten children and are turning the adjacent New Regent Street - a tourist hot spot - into an "eyesore".

Outdoor dining is out of the question for many - they move indoors after the first few dive-bombing, excretia-accompanied minutes.

Church plans

Answering questions from The Press regarding the Church's plans for the site, the Catholic diocese responded in writing saying it had started work upgrading parking services on land it owned in the central city.

However, the response did not clarify whether that included the Armagh pond site where the gull-nesting problems originated.

The Press reports that Christchurch City Council has not received a consent application to turn the site into a temporary car park.

Protected wildlife

Until nesting is over early next year, there is nothing anyone can do about the abundance of gulls - the birds are native and so protected under the Wildlife Act.

A Department of Conservation (DoC) biodiversity ranger said there are no easy solutions to prevent the gulls from returning but people should ensure no food scraps are left around. Rubbish bins should be secure, he said.

DoC has also asked building owners to remove sticks and other nesting material from their rooftops to make it less easy for the gulls to nest.

The ranger said it is the owners' responsibility to do this—DoC is not responsible for deterring the gulls.

Some who can access their rooftops have done this. Others have put spikes on the edges of their buildings to stop gulls from perching there. It works, but it does not prevent nesting.

Source

• The Press

The car park, on the corner of Armagh St and Colombo St, which is owned by the Catholic diocese but operated by Wilson Parking, has been plagued with potholes for years, but a resource consent approved in March was meant to put an end to it.

Come early October - with no work under way - Mark Stevenson, council's head of planning and consents, told The Press the council was considering enforcement action over the owner's non-compliance. Read more

The proceeds from Maryville Courts will help fund the new $100 million Catholic cathedral and central city precinct, as well as new parish centres throughout the diocese.

The Archer Group, a Baptist Church trust retirement village operator is paying an undisclosed sum for Maryville. The sale is due to be settled in October.

It includes 65 villas, a community centre and gardens on a 1.9-hectare site on Salisbury and Manchester streets.

Maryville Courts was of the first retirement complexes of its type in New Zealand when it opened in the 1980s. Until now, it has been run by a Catholic charitable trust.

However, the city has been without a Catholic cathedral since the February 2011 earthquakes ruined the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Rebuilding means land and construction costs have to be met.

The new cathedral, a school and other facilities will be sited on Colombo St, opposite Victoria Square. The price ticket for that last piece of a bare riverside property cost $50m.

It is being designed now by Christchurch-based architects Warren and Mahoney Architects and American firm Franck & Lohsen Architects. It will hold 1000 people.

A property developer and investor who owns a piece in the middle of the site has an agreement with the church to build it a new office building and other facilities.

Tony Sewell, head of property for Christchurch's Catholic diocese, says they are "making progress" on the cathedral and overall precinct's design.

"We are planning this year, and we will be going from that to consenting probably next year."

The Catholic diocese says the Maryville sale is part of "a broader strategy associated with funding the new cathedral and new parish centres".

It is merging suburban parishes around Christchurch, and hopes to raise $26m from selling the surplus church sites. It may also sell the now-cleared Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament site.

In a statement, Archer Group general manager Graeme Mitchell said they were honoured to be buying Maryville, and he wanted to reassure Maryville Courts residents.

"Archer will strive to offer Maryville residents confidence for their future and provide these additional services for residents to enjoy as being part of the wider Archer family," he said.

Source

• Stuff
• Image: Stuff

The terms of the sale are confidential to the parties and settlement of the transaction will occur in late May 2021.

Late last year the church announced its plan to build a school, church headquarters, parking building, and a replacement for the quake-damaged Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

The new Catholic cathedral to be built between Victoria Square and the Avon River.

The old cathedral, on Barbadoes St, is to be demolished.

The church has already bought most of the land for the new precinct - which will occupy the block bordered by Colombo, Armagh and Manchester sts and Oxford Tce.

Bishop Paul Martin said the agreement ensured "that the diocese's vision for the precinct on which the land is situated will now be able to be fully met."

The new precinct will be built for the diocese by the Carter Group, which is progressively selling its own large chunk of land on the block, including the former PricewaterhouseCoopers site, to the church.

MCK Managing Director Mr BK Chiu has thanked the Bishop and his representatives for the constructive way in which negotiations were handled over the last few weeks.

The Bishop also acknowledged MCK's cooperation to ensuring that the Diocese's vision for the precinct on which the land is situated will now be able to be fully met.

Designs for the new cathedral and a timetable for construction are not yet completed.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• links.sgx.com
• Image: stuff.co.nz

The group have asked that the current process be re-examined in two three-hours, or three two hour meetings - professionally facilitated and open to all - with the bishop and his team and the council of consulters.

They also want consideration to be given to an alternative plan that they have developed which they have called the Good Plan and to any other alternatives that may be proposed.

Over 100 people from throughout the diocese have attended three "Gatherings".

The group also has an email distribution list of more than 300.

After the three gatherings representatives of the group had 2 meetings with members of the bishop's team and the college of consulters.

The group agrees with:

• A dedication to and expansion of adult education.
• Full laity involvement in ministry and administration.
• Lay-led liturgies, in the absence of a priest, with trained lay ministers.
• Priests living in a community near church and community buildings, supporting, with lay ministers, a hub of smaller churches.

However, they believe that the 9 June proposal presupposes the old clerical priest based model of the church.

This, they say, resulted in the proposal to amalgamate parishes and close churches.

The implication being that some primary schools and currently fully-functioning diverse Catholic communities are disposable.

"We do understand there is a need to address low attendance and 'churches being vacant from Monday to Saturday'."

This then becomes the Mission - to train skilled, community including, religious and lay ministers in every parish in the diocese."

The Gatherings Group think the diversity of peoples, buildings and liturgies are a hallmark of New Zealand catholicism.

They say diverse buildings, small and large, are essential to sustainability and survivability.

Source

• Supplied
• Image: Catholic Diocese of Christchurch

Click here to read the full statement

The congregation had been meeting in a nearby community hall while the earthquake-damaged church was painstakingly rebuilt.

An opening ceremony for the newly-finished building drew a large crowd on Sunday.

Dozens of parishioners gathered in the car park ahead of Sunday's service, which included speeches from the pastoral council, the building's architect, Paul Foley, and Christchurch East MP Poto Williams.

The opening ceremony also served as the first formal event for the Christchurch's newly-ordained bishop, Paul Martin.

A plaque commemorating the opening of the church was unveiled and blessed.

"The local community have worked very hard on the rebuild of the church. The new church is beautiful and will serve the community well for years to come," said Stopforth.

He said there had been a "signification process around the design of the church and rebuild".

With stark white walls and a large black cross marking the main entrance, the building looked very different compared to the orange brick exterior it had previously.

Within greater Christchurch, 11 diocese-owned churches, including St Mary's in New Brighton, were demolished after the quakes. Seven others were severely damaged and unable to be used and, of those, five are yet to be repaired.

A long-time member of the Catholic Cathedral Management Board, he has a deep understanding of property matters in relation to the Diocese.

"The Diocese has tread a very sensible and measured path in dealing with the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and other churches and schools damaged in the earthquakes, and it is essential that we keep this momentum going. Continue reading

Faith leaders, civic leaders and the Catholic community joined with his family for the Requiem Mass led by Cardinal John Dew yesterday.

Cardinal Dew began by acknowledging Bishop Barry's siblings, their families and the priests, religious and lay faithful who were mourning the loss of their beloved brother, uncle, bishop and friend.

He assured them that he and his brother bishops along with many throughout New Zealand held them in prayer.

The Diocesan staff and Bishop Barry's family had worked very hard in the last week to arrange the week of memorials which would pay a fitting tribute reflecting the spirit in which he lived and ministered to others — in a humble, prayerful and loving way.

Fr Rick Loughnan, Administrator of the Christchurch Diocese said, "We were heartened to have Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews attend and pay her respects.

"She was a supportive friend to Bishop Barry in particular in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes.

"We were also honoured to have the Rt. Hon. Gerry Brownlee, Hon. David Carter, Hon Clayton Cosgrove and Her Worship the Mayor of Christchurch Lianne Dalziel.

"The presence of our civic leaders was a sign of his presence and leadership in the wider community," said Fr Loughnan.

Bishop Basil Meeking, emeritus bishop of Christchurch, gave the homily, describing the many things that Bishop Barry had been involved in during his priestly ministry which spanned close to 50 years.

He highlighted his grasp of tikanga Maori and Te Reo and his time as Chaplain to Maori in the Christchurch Diocese.

"The Samoan community was invited to pay their respects to the Bishop at Te Rangimarie," Fr Loughnan said.

Bishop Barry was very supportive of the Carmelite sisters in Christchurch and his body was taken to the Carmelite monastery at the start of the week.

During those days the Carmelite nuns prayed the morning and evening prayer of the Church and stayed in vigil by his side overnight.

Click here to see more photographs on the Christchurch Diocese Facebook page.

Source

• www.chch.catholic.org.nz
• Image: Supplied