Earthquake Recovery and Rebuild Update January 2012

Briefing from GNS Science seismologists on 6 January 2012
on
TV3 On Demand
http://www.3news.co.nz/Chance-of-mag-7-quake-in-Christchurch-low-but-not-zero/tabid/309/articleID/238369/Default.aspx
or
Christchurch City Council YouTube Channel  http://www.youtube.com/user/ChchCityCouncil  This briefing is in 6 parts.

A good summary of Briefing held on January 6th - the first info since Dec 23rd 2011 by Christchurch Central MP Nicky Wagner  "Earthquake Recovery and Rebuild Update January 2012" Click here to read

A copy of TC3 Areas Information Booklet was sent out just before Christmas. The booklet has been prepared by CERA and other agencies working on Canterbury earthquake recovery to better inform residential property owners about the technical categories and what they mean.

In case you did not receive a copy of the book is available on their website at http://cera.govt.nz/sites/cera.govt.nz/files/common/technical-categories-and-your-property-december-2011.pdf

December Update

As some of you will have noticed the playground off Ti Rakau Drive is in the procees of being remodelled and is currently fenced off, the grass in the area is in a mess and is scheduled to be regrassed late summer. They expect the playground to reopen on 22nd December. It was not possible to go ahead with the planned Christmas Party this year..

We are now waiting for Gerry Brownlee to release the area wide land reports next week.
Also survey helicopters have been busy in our area. 

What happens if my property is TC3 (blue)?

Property owners in TC3 who need to carry out foundation repairs or house rebuilding will require site-specific geotechnical investigation and specific engineering foundation design.

The Department of Building and Housing is currently undertaking a research trial of foundation systems to test the feasibility and cost of innovation solutions for repairing or rebuilding foundations in Technical Category 3.

The trial is expected to be completed and internationally peer reviewed, with the results and available mid-December 2011. Updated guidance for repairing or rebuilding houses and design guidance in Technical Category 3 Is then expected to be issued by the end of February 2012.

Until these are available we may not be able to access those properties damaged deemed over the EQC cap for each event in TC3, as we will not know what repair options are available for foundation on this land.

Source:  NZI Earthquake Update November 2011

Green Zone Changes : What They Mean For You

If you missed the meeting in the area this video gives further explanation to the new green zones and explains more about TC1 TC2 and TC3 categories.
Click Here http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/blog/2011/11/cera-land-decisions---panel-discussion-video-explanation
Also http://cera.govt.nz/residential-green-zone-technical-categories

Q & A by CERA - Residential Green Zone Technical Categories

Answers to questions about residential green zone technical categories

The announcement of technical categories for foundation systems for residential properties in flat areas has prompted questions from Christchurch property owners.]

The technical categories – TC1 (grey), TC2 (yellow) and TC3 (blue) describe the foundation systems most likely to be required in the corresponding areas on the maps.  As this is an area wide classification, site specific geotech work will be required to determine the actual foundations required for each house in TC3 areas.  In some cases this will mean TC2 level foundations will be enough in TC3 areas based on actual ground tests.  This approach is common throughout New Zealand.

It is important to note that property owners only need to replace their foundations if their house needs to be rebuilt, or requires repairs to the foundations.  Otherwise, no further action is needed (until you undertake major renovations that affect your foundations).

Click here to read 17 Questions & Ansawers published in Saturday 12 November 2011 edition of The Press

CERA/EQC/DBH Combind Meeting Woolston, Ferrymead, Brookhaven - Blue TC3 properties

It appears there have been some glitches in CERA communications and not all residents have received letter advising of the following meetings with CERA, EQC & Department of Building & Housing

• Monday 14 November - Woolston Working Men's Club  - 6-8 pm
• Thursday 17 November - Woolston Working Men's Club - 11am - 1 pm

If you know people living in the area please tell them. URGENT tomorrow MONDAY first meeting

CERA Community Meeting Woolston

Ferrymead Brookhaven residents will have opportunity to attend Woolston community meeting's for property owners recently zoned green - organised by CERA

• Monday 14 November - Woolston Working Men's Club  - 6-8 pm
• Thursday 17 November - Woolston Working Men's Club - 11am - 1 pm

Source - letter fro CERA to residents dated 9 November 2011

Ruth Dyson at Ferrymead Brookhaven Meeting

RUTH DYSON: The local Brookhaven/Ferrymead Residents' Association called a meeting last night to discuss the new zone for the suburb - Green Blue Technical Category 3. We were fortunate to have the attendance of both Michelle Mitchell and Diane Turner from CERA, as well as Terry O'Leary from Cancern. Well over 500 people attended. Lots of questions arising from the material which was distributed from the CERA office, which I will be raising at the cross-party forum tomorrow.

The biggest question was how the decision was made that this land was ok to rebuild and immense frustration that the land report will not be released to the local residents.

• What assistance will be given to property owners for them to work together for area wide solutions?
•  How will it be physically possible to have an individual geotech report on each individual property, as is suggested in the statement from Minister Gerry Brownlee, that still might be needed ?
• If a rebuild on an individual section is not possible as determined by the geotech report, will EQC pay out on the land?
• What if the insurer says that they won't pay to rebuild there - will EQC pay out then?
• Can the green/blue land be rezoned red in the future, as was intimated by Diane Turner?
• Have the relevant land reports been handed over from Tonkin and Taylor to EQC and the Insurance Companies?
• Will people be able to get legal advice in relation to their options?

Lots of questions to which there were no answers. However, the CERA representatives did explain that the Residents' Association had set up this meeting in advance of the official CERA meeting with residents which will happen sometime soon (after the 14th November) and they promised to have all the relevant people available to answer the questions. The communication plan from CERA is woeful and has increased the frustration and distress for people who just deserve straight answers to straight questions about issues that have a huge impact on their lives.

Source http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1111/S00149/christchurch-earthquake-bulletin-editions-139-and-140.htm

Over 500 at CERA Brookhaven Ferrymead Meeting

Over 500 people attended which was ... wow. Most of the meeting the floor was passed to Cera who gave an outline on the background to the zone changes. A half hour Q&A also took place with people asking questions on things like ROW, EQC, Council, Property value fears, insurance issues and delays. Ruth Dyson also spoke on the human issues people face, a letter from David Carter was read and Cancern spoke at the end.

While there was a lot of background frustration evident both at Cera for the lack of detailed information to be suppled and at peoples situation the vast majority I spoke with afterwards felt they did come away better informed. For such a huge crowd of people in a scary situation everyone was very polite and respectful.

A show of hands on how many "believe" they are rebuilds was very revealing. Cera data was 20% rebuild, 20% repair and 60% no major damage. Hands on the night was probably 150-200 maybe. Well above that.

There will be letters to all from Cera outlining public meetings they will be holding very soon which will include Dept Housing, Insurance, Council, EQC etc.  Quoted with permission

FERRYMEAD BROOKHAVEN RESIDENTS COMMUNITY MEETING

CERA representatives and Ruth Dyson will attend

FERRYMEAD BROOKHAVEN RESIDENTS
COMMUNITY MEETING

MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER , 6:00 PM SHARP
(finish approx 7:30pm)

LOCATION: SAMOAN CHURCH (Mapusaga Fou), church hall, 9 Vili Place.
(This is off St Lukes Street, which is off St Johns Road, Woolston.
The church is the one that can be seen on the corner of Linwood Ave and DyersRoad).
Optional gold coin donation to offset expenses, tea & coffee, etc.

Residents have requested a community meeting specifically for our area. The purpose of the meeting is to update and inform residents about last Friday's land decision. Many of our residents were shocked and dismayed by the sudden announcement last Friday. It has been very challenging to come to terms with the way the message was delivered and the message itself. There was a widespread belief that most of Brookhaven would go red, due to area wide ground settlement caused by severe liquefaction. So naturally there are mixed emotions running throughout our community.

The meeting focus is to look to the future and understand the process and rationale of becoming Green/Blue TC3 and how we can move forward positively. Our residents should after the meeting be better informed about land, rebuilding and insurance issues. Our aim is provide relevant expertise on the night as a starting point to understand the process and the road ahead.

Speakers - Ruth Dyson has accepted an invitation to speak, David Carter is out of town but will send a message, CERA Geotech and a community liaison person will be there. Christchurch City Councillors Yani Johanson and Tim Carter will attend if their planning hearings finish early enough. EQC have been invited, but cannot attend, however we are sending them questions to answer and we will read them out at the meeting. We will also have local building industry people on hand to answer rebuild questions.

We also now have a Ferrymead Brookhaven Residents Association Blog
http://ferrymead-brookhaven.blogspot.com/ 

This has been set up to keep you informed of developments in our area.
This blog is linked to http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/ who now publish a link to all new postings. Big thanks to Margaret Copplestone for her expertise and motivation to get this underway.

You can also follow us through the Trademe Earthquake thread in the community notices. Best wishes to everyone.

David Stringer (Chairman) and Debra Ogier (Secretary)

Ferrymead Brookhaven Resident's Association
Enquiries to Dave 376 6136