Work progresses on Port Hills

The Christchurch City Council and contractors will proceed with rock stabilisation work in the Port Hills on land that is jointly owned by the Council and private landowners

Work has so far been prioritised to ensure lifelines – such as key access roads – are made safe first. Geotechnical resources can now focus on the work which is necessary to address the red stickers for residential houses.

Council Regulation and Democracy General Manager Peter Mitchell says work on Council-owned reserves in the Port Hills has been ongoing and the Council this week agreed to push ahead with safety work on jointly owned land and recover costs from the appropriate agency in the future. This work amounts to around $800,000 of the total $22 million that the Council is allocating.

The areas that this affects are:

343 – 351 Port Hills Road, an exposed bluff 60 metres above the lifeline road.

10 – 28 Bridle Path Road, 11 areas of rock remediation.

176 – 216 Bridle Path Road, bluffs above 10 houses where rockfall occurred on 22 February.

144 – 174 Bridle Path Road and Hammersmith Lane, 30 work zones above houses where rockfall occurred on 22 February.

311 – 313 Port Hills Road, sites about residential housing where rockfall occurred on 22 February.

37 – 55 Heberden Avenue, loosened rock about houses where rockfall occurred on 22 February.

Norton Close/Somes Road, 23 sites above residential housing where rockfall occurred on 22 February.

61 – 79 Heberden Avenue, exposed bluff above residential housing where rockfall occurred on 22 February.

77 – 87 Avoca Valley Road Tussock Farm, exposed bluff above residential housing.

27 – 65 Ocean View Terrace and 1 – 10 L Mar Lane, exposed boulders and bluff above road.

Mr Mitchell says all available geotechnical resources are being used to complete this work. Timelines and priorities are being established now and we expect to be able to inform residents of this next week.

“Work to make hillsides safe has been ongoing since the Civil Defence emergency following the 22 February earthquake and is being carried out by geotechnical consultants and contractors. It is a complex issue and, depending on the nature or location of the problem, the responsibility lies with either the Council, the Earthquake Commission (EQC), the private landowner or a combination of more than one of these. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) is in close liaison with the Council on these matters and all agencies are working together to ensure the best and most efficient outcome. There is a big job ahead and we are eager to progress as quickly as possible while ensuring public safety.

“The Council is also working through the process right now of reviewing the status of all 480 red stickers that were issued on the Port Hills as a result of geotechnical work after 22 February before they expire on 12 July. It is likely that the majority of these will be replaced with notices that prohibit entry under the Building Act.

“Red stickers will not be removed from homes until a process has been approved by the Council and the most important aspect is public safety and the safety of homeowners. The proposed process is being peer reviewed by an international expert in rockfalls to ensure that it is consistent with international best practice. When the Council receives the peer-reviewed geotechnical advice on the proposed process, it will then be considered by Council before being adopted and rolled-out as stabilisation work is completed. It is anticipated this decision by the Council should be made within the next two months.”

More information will be available on these processes in coming weeks and we will keep residents updated as work continues. For specific requests please email porthillsgeotech@ccc.govt.nz.