City councillors unanimously endorsed an investment case to Government to put $40 million from the Christchurch regeneration acceleration fund towards a green spine in the city's residential red zone, the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.
It will now be presented to Treasury.
The green spine, which was part of the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor plan approved by Greater Regeneration Minister Megan Woods in August, will incorporate large areas of ecological restoration, with a mix of community spaces and trails.
Mayor Lianne Dalziel said it would be of benefit to the whole city.
"I am one of the former residents in the residential red zone as it was known at the time and there is nothing that pleases more than to see this paper come up as our first major decision paper for the term," she said.
The investment case said the initial $40m investment would be used to create pathways and connections along the full length of the corridor, establish basic public facilities and up to seven landing sites, and begin the restoration of ecological areas.
The estimated costs are $7.7m for pathways and connections, $6.6m for basic public facilities and seven landing sites, and $25.7m for ecological restoration.
