Lincoln

Planning for expansion: the reinvention of a small town in New Zealand

Name	Lincoln Structure Plan
Place	Lincoln
Country	New Zealand
Topic	please enter the topic here
Author(s)	Paul Wilson
Completion	Please enter the date of completion
Client	Please enter the client
Project costs	Please enter the costs (if known)


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Rationale: Why is this case study interesting?

This is the story of what shaped and influenced the development of a structure plan for a small town in New Zealand. Lincoln township is intimately linked to the history of Lincoln University. Its historical evolution illustrates many generic aspects of small rural towns in New Zealand, but it has special interest because of the way it is associated with the development of New Zealand. The Resource Management Act 1991 in conjunction with restructuring of the state sector and local and regional government has brought about significant changes in the approach to environmental management in New Zealand. The future of Lincoln will be shaped by the goals and principles of the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy, which has identified Lincoln as a growth centre, based upon its potential for a ‘new knowledge economy’. This case study explores the elements, patterns and dynamics that are shaping the character of Lincoln as the community expands and moves from being a sleepy rural township to become a centre of growth and innovation. In particular I consider the role of Lincoln University in this transition both as a landowner and as an educator actively engaged in local issues and the development of the Landscape Architecture profession in New Zealand.

Author's perspective

As a Landscape Architecture Masters student at Lincoln I approach this case study both from an academic perspective and as a member of the community. My professional background is in regional land use planning and resource management both in northern Canada and China. This has equipped me with a McHargian perspective which we are encouraged to explore further through our design studios in landscape architecture. Experience working with communities has also given me an appreciation of the opportunities and limitations of grass roots initiatives. I believe the case study method provides a systematic and disciplined approach to landscape architecture and exploring Lincoln from this perspective provides a clearer insight into the patterns that have shaped the township. As part of the LE:NOTRE Urban Landscapes Seminar this provides a useful resource for learning, collaboration and development of a more culturally aware landscape architecture profession.

Landscape and/or urban context

Lincoln is on the Canterbury Plains which extend from Lake Ellesmere to the foothills of the Southern Alps. The lower Plains comprise a broad plain of un-cemented outwash river gravels overlain with variable loess cover from glacial periods (1). To the north and south mountain-fed rivers extend down to the Pacific Ocean. The Waimakariri flood plain extends across the south/eastern edge of Lincoln and the land is lower. At one time the edge of Lake Ellesmere was close to the centre of the township. This is reflected in the soil types with drier soils found in the north and heavier wetter soils are found in the south. It is also apparent in the water system surrounding the township. There is a distinctive change from water races to water drainage and from springs to wells. The original vegetation would also have reflected the soil conditions. Management of water is important for draining and irrigating productive agricultural land. The region has a temperate climate and receives an annual rainfall of 600-800mm/annum with westerly winds predominating in all seasons (2). Waterways, wetlands and areas of significant remnant vegetation are important for biodiversity and act as corridors for migrating birds. Drainage races extend as far as Lake Ellesmere which is the largest lake in New Zealand and a significant haven for birds. Locally habitat is found around the Liffey Stream system and pockets of vegetation around Lincoln University campus and the Crown Research Institutes. These provide islands between native remnants.

The cultural landscape of the Plains is dominated by agriculture and small settlements. The distant views to the Alps and Port Hills appear between coniferous shelter belts that provide definition to the open landform. The historic layout of Lincoln township is evident in the orderly grid aligned with the main street. There are also a number of heritage buildings and the mature trees along the Liffey stream which help orientate the visitor. No areas or sites of cultural significance to Maori have been identified to date within Lincoln township (3), although Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora) to the south has special cultural importance (4). At the centre of the township along Gerald Street there is a pub and several shops, community services, small commercial establishments and a poorly defined market square. Further along there is a modern café and a line of shops set back from the road facing into a car park. North of the centre there are primary and high schools, elderly residences, a golf course and cemetery. There is also a domain with several sports fields, a bowling club and tennis courts. The cottage garden style plantings and mature vegetation of some of the older sections introduce a distinctively rural European character although native planting now dominate particularly in new areas. There are several new suburban developments each with a distinctive branding. Here the lot sizes and street patterns are more irregular than the centre. There are frequent cul-de-sacs, pedestrian ways and many streets are narrower than the older avenues and lined with trees. Some of both the old and new sections have been fenced along the road frontage which detracts from the open street atmosphere.

On the road north-east towards Christchurch, former agricultural land is now dominated by lifestyle blocks which expanded during the 1990’s. Additional planting around these sites reduces the open character and blurs the distinction between urban and rural. In contrast the high rise buildings of Lincoln University emerge above mature trees to the east about one kilometre from the town centre. They are separated from residential areas by productive agricultural land and the Crown Research Institutes. Historic research records for soils in the area make the land invaluable for the region. The campus includes a range of contemporary buildings arranged around Ivey Hall (1878) which dates back to the original School of Agriculture. The campus has grown and adapted to accommodate a growing student population. In the summer the grounds are home of New Zealand cricket and there are sports fields, amenity gardens, a vineyard and an orchard. Both the University and the town centre are serviced by regular bus services to Hornby and Christchurch. There was once a rail connection to Christchurch and today there are plans to extend a cycle track along the original route.

Cultural/social/political context

Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework

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History

How did the area/project/plan at the focus of the case study evolve?

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