Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board voted last week to recommend the sale of a section of Christchurch City Council land to the school’s backers Nōku Te Ao Charitable Trust.
The board also recommended a fire station be built on the 39.02ha section at 27 Hunters Rd and 42 Whero Ave.
It would replace the Diamond Harbour Volunteer Fire Brigade's old station which is no longer fit for purpose.
The city council will now consider the land sales, with the date still to be determined.
All board members voted in favour of the proposal except Luana Swindells who abstained due to a conflict of interest.
“It was really good. It was great to hear from the community and hear the legitimate concerns,” said Lyttelton board member Cathy Lum-Webb.
The board heard from the school, Te Pā o Rākaihautū, and Ministry of Education representatives.
Members of the public also spoke at the board meeting with submissions for and against the planned school split.
Some cited the importance of recognising Māori culture, while others spoke of traffic concerns for students travelling into Diamond Harbour.
Ministry head of property Sam Fowler said the Government understood the community’s concerns over the potential for congestion on the roads around the site and coming into Diamond Harbour. But he reassured them any traffic issues will be solved.
The results of a city council survey show Diamond Harbour residents are in favour of building a new fire station but split on the school.
The survey, undertaken in February, found 50.9 per cent of respondents from Diamond Harbour were opposed to the school being built, 34.9 per cent were fully in favour, 8.9 per cent were somewhat in favour, and 5.3 per cent were not sure.
