Birdlings Flat Community profile
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Community profile
Birdlings Flat
Including Kaitorete Spit
(Census area unit: part of Little River)
Christchurch city
Birdlings Flat is an iconic New Zealand coastal bach settlement with a mixture of holiday and permanent
homes. It is a windswept, unforgiving environment. As subdivisions have been developed the character of
the area is changing to include larger, more suburban-style homes. The residences bordering Lake
Forsyth/Te Wairewa, Poronui, and in subdivisions reaching back towards the main highway, generally house
a more permanent population. Birdlings Flat is a discrete community 45 minutes' drive from Christchurch
and 12 kilometres from Little River.
The total population in the 2006 Census data was 168; however, several new houses have been built in the
last five years with a corresponding increase in the number of permanent residents. Of the population, 25
per cent are aged under 20 years old. The median age is 41 years. At the 2006 census the demographic
statistics were: 15 under five-year olds; 21 aged 5–14 years old; 6 aged 15–19 years old; 6 aged 20–29
years old; 57 aged 30–44 years old; 15 aged 45–54 years old; 30 aged 55–64 years old; and 18 aged over
65 years old. The New Zealand Deprivation Index 2006 for the Birdlings Flat settlement is 10 (10 being the
most deprived). Birdlings Flat is a commutable community, with many travelling to Christchurch or districts
within Selwyn for work.
There are no recreational facilities in the area except for a small children’s playground alongside public toilet;
no community buildings; no sports fields or tennis courts; no health services; no public transport; no shops or
dairy; and community consultation/meetings take place in a resident’s garage or marquee.
There is one primary school, Years 1-8 (decile four), situated in Little River; secondary schooling is at Lincoln
High School or at various Christchurch schools. Many children travel by school bus daily. Occasionally
children will bike the 12 kilometres along the Rail Trail to Little River.Key demographics
Usually resident population count Ethnic groups in the area (%)
(Data from Statistics New Zealand) (Data from 2006 Census, Statistics New Zealand)
500
450 Other
8.3
400
350
MELAA (Middle Eastern, Latin
300 American and African) 0.0
250
200
Asian
150 0.0
100
50
Pacific Island
0
0.0
1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031
Mäori
20.0
NB: Projected Population Statistics not available
to this level (only available to Area unit)
European
71.7
Median personal income compared to Christchurch City %
(Data from Statistics New Zealand) Birdlings Flat Christchurch City
Employment status (%)
(Data from 2006 Census, Statistics New Zealand)
25000
20000
Unidentifiable 4.7
15000
Not in the
10000 32.6
Labour Force
5000
Unemployed 4.7
0
1996 2001 2006 Employed Part-
16.3
time
Birdlings Flat Christchurch City
Employed Full-
41.9
time
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0
Home ownership (%)
(Data from Statistics New Zealand)
Family type (%)
Dwelling Owned or Partly (Data from 2006 Census, Statistics New Zealand)
Owned by Usual
Resident(s)
Dwelling Not Owned by
Usual Resident(s)
Couple without Children
Family Trust
Couple with Child(ren)
Not Stated
One Parent with
Child(ren)Social infrastructure mapping
Birdlings Flat
Community development/support organisations Schools
Sport/recreation/leisure groups Community facilities (Council-owned)
Faith-based organisations Libraries (Council-owned)
Residents'/business associations
The above ratings have been based on reach, diversity, and participation. For example, bigger circles
tend to be groups that provide a wider range of services, or have large numbers of participants. They
also tend to be groups that are well networked within the community.
Birdlings Flat is a small, resilient community without any formal groups or organisations. Residents
participate in local interest groups and gatherings, with many also actively involved in larger community
organisations/sports/craft groups in Little River.Community resilience mapping
1a
5
5c 1b
4
5b 1c
3
2
5a 2a
1
0
4c 2b
4b 2c
4a 3a
3c 3b
Scale: 1 = Low 5 = High
15 Measures of resilience
Community development organisations rating Volunteering rating
1a Number of organisations (1) 2a Investment in volunteers (5)
1b Strength of organisations (5) 2b Number of volunteer hours (funded groups) (1)
1c Community development principles (3) 2c Number of people volunteering from Census (5)
Connectedness rating Participation rating
3a Number of neighbourhood support groups (1) 4a Community events (1)
3b Number of residents' associations (1) 4b Funded projects participation rates (5)
3c Access to networking groups/forums (2) 4c Club membership numbers (1)
Preparedness rating
5a Number of neighbourhood support groups (1)
5b Households involved in neighbourhood support (1)
5c Capability of groups to lead local response (1)Earthquake impact analysis
a.
5
l. b.
4
3
k. c.
2
1
j. 0 d.
i. e.
h. f.
g.
Pre-Quake Nov-11 Nov-12
Pre-Sep. 2010 Nov. 2011 Nov. 2012
Social environment
a. Community organisations 1 1 1
b. Community connectedness 2 4 3
c. Community participation 3 3 3
Built environment
d. Housing stock 1 1 1
e. Roading infrastructure 4 4 4
f. Community facilities 1 1 1
Economic environment
g. Local business/services 1 1 1
h. Access to local services 1 1 1
i. Local economy 1 1 1
Natural environment
j. Land condition 4 4 4
k. Parks and spaces 1 1 1
l. Accessibility to natural environment 4 4 4Community environment Social environment There are no local social service agencies or organisations to deliver programmes, either for groups or individuals. The community has become more resilient and more cohesive following the earthquakes, with small informal groups, for example, coffee mornings and playgroups, meeting regularly. Built environment A small number of houses have suffered damage, losing chimneys and sustaining internal, mostly superficial, damage. Earthquake Commission New Zealand (EQC) commenced full assessments of residential properties on 26 September 2011, and these have now all been completed. The Fletcher Construction Hub located at Akaroa has the responsibility of co-ordinating repairs for residential properties with damage in the $10,000-$100,000 category. There are no community facilities, meeting rooms or designated recreation areas in this area. Economic environment There is a small, local business community 12 kilometres away in Little River. There are no retail or convenience stores in this zone. Some individuals have a level of uncertainty over employment permanency and potential changes in the workplace environment post earthquakes. Natural environment Birdlings Flat was minimally affected by the earthquakes. Roads remained open, however, there were some minor rock falls on valley ridges and some water ponding on rural paddocks close to the highway and access road to the settlement.
Future risks and opportunities
Risk / opportunity Progress to date / outcomes
• There is patchy telecommunication/broadband/ • In 2011-12 Strengthening Communities funding
television (without satellite) and radio coverage from the Council was provided to establish a
for the whole area. There is no cell phone small local radio station, which will have the
coverage at Birdlings Flat. capacity to reach the Little River and Birdlings
Flat area and the capability of disseminating
emergency information in times of
disaster/adverse events.
• The local volunteer Fire Brigade has now been • It is hoped that the fire brigade, in their civil
formally assigned the role of Civil Defence defence role, will be able to initiate some
co-ordination. The risks are that not only are on-going development plans for the Birdlings
they reliant on volunteers, but if already called Flat area.
out on a medical emergency or accident and/or
a fire, they may not be able to co-ordinate civil • The Little River/Wairewa Community intends to
defence during a disaster/adverse event. They include Birdlings Flat residents wishing to
also have their base in the settlement of Little become part of the Neighbourhood Support
River, which may have road access on the asset database.
highway obstructed by slips or rock falls.
• Birdlings Flat is close to the wild, open Pacific
Ocean and therefore at potential risk of the
effects of a tsunami. Earlier in the 2010 year
with the tsunami warning, Birdlings Flat
residents felt isolated and unsure of whether
they needed to move away from the beach and
whether they should head to Little River or
Christchurch.
• There remains the risk of some minor rock falls • No action at this time.
associated with slips which can, at times of
heavy rain, pose a risk to State Highway 75,
particularly between Birdlings Flat and Little
River; this would close access to the
highway/roads for emergency services,
residents and also other service deliveries.
• There are currently no health or social services • The Akaroa Heartland Centre opened an
provided locally. There are no facilities or outreach Heartland Centre in the Service
building for community use, no opportunity for Centre in Little River in October 2012, which
recreation/social interaction, and no facility for could expand to Birdlings Flat if there was a
consultation meetings. The residents feel suitable facility from which the service could be
particularly disadvantaged and isolated without delivered.
any community facility or area designated for • Avenues to obtain a building for Birdlings Flat
community activities. There are 36 children are being explored across both Council and
aged under 15 (census 2006) living in this other opportunities as they arise.
settlement, with an increasing permanent
population.
• There is a risk of increasing domestic violence • Low-key awareness campaigns for 'It's not OK';
and other abuse, as historically statistics show implementation of some social services to
an increase after a disaster once people's address issues for groups and individuals.
coping mechanisms decline, and also with the
increased pressures traditionally associated • A Safer Christchurch project has been
with Christmas/holidays/financial commitments. implemented to address issues which, if they
escalate, risk an increase in anti-social
behaviour and family violence across the age
spectrum.You can also read
