Kirk Hargreaves
A petition is asking the Government to ensure the Avon River red zone areas become reserves and river parks when home owners have to leave. Brett Leask, left, gets the petition off the boat before paddling up the Avon.
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A petition calling for red-zoned parts of Christchurch's Avon riverside to be turned into a park is making a symbolic journey along the waterway.
More than 18,500 people signed the petition, organised by the Avon-Otakaro Network, that asks Parliament to ensure the land becomes a river park and reserve, rather than being remediated and rebuilt on.
City councillors Peter Beck and Glenn Livingstone today blessed the petition at a ceremony at Shag Rock, Sumner, before its symbolic journey up the river from the Estuary.
It will be met at Christchurch Airport at 5pm by Mayor Bob Parker before being flown to Wellington and sponsored into Parliament by Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel.
Several MPs have signed the petition, including Labour leader David Shearer and Green Party co-leader Russel Norman.