By Ally Mullord
As Christchurch begins to get back on its feet after the February earthquake, businesses like Lion Nathan and the Christchurch Casino are putting their weight behind the city’s central business district.
The Central City Business Association has set a date for businesses hoping to return to the CBD - ‘Restart 29 October’ will see businesses move back into the city.
Christchurch's Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale joined Firstline this morning to talk about how Christchurch businesses are coping.
Mr Lonsdale says Canterbury businesses are in for “a tough winter” but says the restart initiative will give people some hope.
Lion Nathan announced yesterday that they will replace Canterbury Brewery – which was severely damaged in the earthquake – with a $15 million warehouse and distribution centre, something Mr Lonsdale welcomes as a positive sign.
“Minimal loss of jobs…$15 million that's going to be put back into our community… it’s a signal that people are willing to reinvest in the city,” he says.
He says that while it could take some time for businesses and residents to return to the CBD in pre-quake numbers, in the long term he expects the city to gain rather than lose.
He says 76 percent of businesses “want to return to the CBD right now”, and he expects this number to climb as the rebuild progresses.
Watch the video for the full interview
3 News