Simpson Scott: Riccarton Racecourse Development Enabling Bill Riccarton Racecourse Bill — Second ReadingsText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSimpson Scott: Riccarton Racecourse Development Enabling Bill Riccarton Racecourse Bill — Second Readings[Sitting date: 01 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11596. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): Well that member Megan Woods started off her speech—and in fairness most of it was pretty good apart from the last couple of minutes when she flew off into a rage and a tirade about some flight of fancy about what she may think is going to occur in other parts of the country. But it is a pleasure to rise in support of these two bills and to follow on from the Minister Nick Smith who I thought gave a very good address and a comprehensive history of why it is that we are debating these two bills in their second reading in the House this afternoon.Back in 1878 when the original enabling legislation that set up the Riccarton Racecourse was put through the Parliament of New Zealand the area that was designated as reserve land for the racecourse was of course way out in the boondocks. It was a long long way from what was then Christchurch City. As the Minister said in his speech if you go back to the Hansard reports of the original debate you will find there was some scepticism about how successful this park of racetracks would be because it was so far away from the city. Well in the hundred or more years that have ensued since the original legislation was passed and the reserve was put in place of course the city has expanded and it has built itself around what is now a very important part of the Riccarton suburb and of course the entire Christchurch City make-up. It is a very important part of the city.These two bills are actually a combination of legislation that will mean the racing club can move forward in terms of providing some real estate for the regrowth—the regeneration—of Christchurch in a meaningful way and I am very supportive of that. The Local Government and Environment Committee was fortunate enough to be able to travel to Christchurch and actually hear the two submissions that we received from submitters who wanted to be heard in person at the Riccarton Racecourse. I have to say I had not visited the racecourse previously. So for me as a non-Cantabrian it was a real treat and a privilege and a pleasure to actually visit the site and to go there and see the beautifully manicured grounds the lovely racecourse and of course the big extensive area that makes up the racecourse.Of the 120-odd hectares—which is a very large footprint I have to say for a racecourse—some 82 hectares will remain after this legislation has gone through and after the nearly 600 homes that are to be built on the 40 hectares that will be designated for residential building have been built. That still leaves a very big footprint. I got a sense from hearing the submissions and from touring and visiting the site of just how important it is to the people of Riccarton and Canterbury that that site be maintained in a way that is accessible to the public which is important for the maintenance of the fine racing tradition that occurs in Canterbury. I guess I got a sense of how that balance could be achieved.One of the things I think is particularly important is that of the homes that will be built on the 40 hectares that are being designated for residential building a minimum of 180 of those homes are to be affordable. In terms of a definition affordable will mean they will be below the $450000 KiwiSaver HomeStart cap that exists in Christchurch. I think that is going to be important for part of the regrowth of Christchurch and the regeneration of Christchurch. The Minister made passing comment about how many homes are needed and how large the city is going to become. Of course this is part of a suite of legislation that the Local Government and Environment Committee has been considering on a whole range of Canterbury and Christchurch - related issues. I guess I could put it in terms of it being almost a silver lining that came out of the tragic situation that was the Canterbury earthquakes 5 years ago. I suspect that had those earthquakes not taken place and had the tragedy not occurred we would not be considering this bill today.I want to along with the Minister acknowledge and thank the board of trustees of the Riccarton Racing Club for its support for its ability to take on board some of the issues that the select committee raised. I want to acknowledge Ngāi Tahu Property which will be the organisation that manages and oversees the development. I want to thank the local submitters—the people who came to the select committee and gave us a very clear steer about their views both in writing and in person and I particularly want to thank the officials who worked on the bills with the committee. These are good pieces of pragmatic legislation. They provide assistance to the solution of the much-needed need for further residential accommodation to the built in Christchurch and I have very great pleasure in commending them to the House in their second reading.