Govt tight-lipped on quake-damaged land plans

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Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee, Chch Mayor Bob Parker and PM John Key

MON, 20 JUN 2011 10:52A.M.

The Government is still refusing to identify which Christchurch suburbs will be abandoned, despite confirming that around 12,000 Christchurch homes will be written off due to quake damage.

The delay in revealing the fate of entire suburbs is angering the city’s residents.

But speaking on RadioLIVE this morning, Acting Prime Minister Bill English says it is a complicated process that can’t be rushed.

“Resolving these issues means getting the insurance companies, the EQC, all their reinsurers as well as the council, the Government and the bank, all aligned,” he says.

He says there is no limit to the budget available to the Earthquake Commission to employ more people to speed up claims processing.

In the suburbs today a wet and miserable day is hampering efforts to remove silt from across the city.

Hundreds of tonnes of silt is still to be removed after it gushed up through the ground, following the two major aftershocks last week.

The wet conditions have turned the silt to slush, making it nearly impossible to remove by hand. Machinery is being used to do the job where possible.

Meanwhile, today is the last day for Christchurch resident to submit their ideas on the city’s rebuild.

The Christchurch City Council’s Share and Idea campaign has allowed residents to voice their vision online, as well as at a series of workshops.

The promotion finishes today, but Mayor Bob Parker is one of around 80,000 residents who have had their say.

“I’d love to see the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park green spaces stemmed further into the city,” he says.

The council will use the suggestions in their Central City Plan, which will be released for public consultation mid-August.

3 News

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