Land assessments complete, reports coming by April

From  EQConnects update Thursday 26 January 2012
Land assessments complete, reports coming by April

All initial assessments of land claims were completed by EQC’s engineers by 17 December 2011. Individual reports for each property are currently being prepared and checked. We will provide customers with their land reports. The report will provide an overview of the nature and extent of the damage sustained to land and will be in a format that is easily understandable for the customer.

To finalise these reports, we need additional LiDAR data. LiDAR aerial mapping identifies the changes which have occurred to land across Canterbury as a result of all earthquake events since September 2010. Most customers with a land claim will have their initial land assessment reports by the end of April. For some properties, there may be a requirement for more detailed assessments and we will contact those customers soon.

Community Meeting for Ferrymead Brookhaven Residents

Ferrymead Brookhaven Residents Association invite you to a

COMMUNITY MEETING FOR
FERRYMEAD BROOKHAVEN RESIDENTS
WITH
CERA/EQC/AMI/IAG/CCC

TUESDAY 31ST JANUARY 2012
6PM SHARP – finish approx 7-30pm.

SAMOAN CHURCH HALL, 9 Vili Place, which is off St Lukes street, which is off St Johns road in Woolston. The church is the one that can be seen on the corner of Linwood Ave and Dyers road.

Greetings everyone, we trust you and your families are well. Please be advised of a special meeting for Ferrymead and Brookhaven residents.

CERA, EQC, CCC, AMI, IAG will be there to discuss specific issues for our area. We will be discussing rebuilding process issues including floodplan variation 48. Please bring your questions, concerns and issues. Come and learn more about the future of our land.

The last time we met at the Samoan church hall on the 7th of November, we had over 500 people. We also wish to update you on some initiatives the residents association is planning to introduce for your benefit. There will be an information table, Earthquake Support Co-ordinators present and an opportunity to have discussions with representatives. Tea and coffee provided afterwards.

Our sincere thanks to CERA community wellbeing team for assistance with this meeting.

Follow us on Ferrymead Brookhaven Residents Association Blog
http://ferrymead-brookhaven.blogspot.com/

Best wishes to everyone
David Stringer (Chairman) and Deb Ogier (Secretary)
Ferrymead Brookhaven Residents Association
Enquiries to 376 6136

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