Christchurch Earthquake update

Update on the aftershocks of 13 June 2011

Recreation facilities
Libraries update
Water tankers
Wheelie bins
Volunteer update

Recreation facilities

Full building checks have been undertaken on Council Recreation and Sport Centres after Monday's earthquakes.
While we are determined to keep any closures to a minimum, our main priority is to ensure our facilities remain a safe place for you and your family.

• Jellie Park and Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centres re-opened on Thursday 16 June.
• Cowles Stadium and Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre Sports Hall are now also open.
• Lyttelton Recreation Centre requires minor repairs before re-opening.
• Wharenui Pool will remain closed and requires further assessment.
• Council leased facilities - Cuthberts Green, Denton Oval, Fencing Centre, Porritt Park, Wigram Gym, Sockburn Recreation Centre, Rugby League Park, English Park - will remain closed pending an assessment.

Libraries update

All Christchurch City Libraries were closed from the afternoon of the 13 June as a precaution. Library property inspections started on Tuesday 14 June working from east to west.
The following libraries are now open:

• Akaroa
• Little River
• Linwood Mini - including study support sessions
• Mobile - check the mobile library page for our daily schedule
• South Library and South Learning Centre including study support sessions

Water tankers

An extra 12 water tankers are now in place in the city’s worst-affected suburbs for use by residents who still do not have water supply.
There is an extra water tank at 2 Esplanade, Sumner and extra water tankers at the following locations:

        1091 Ferry Road, Ferrymead
         34 Morganwood Street, Bexley
         41 Robson Avenue, Avonside
         487 New Brighton Road, New Brighton
         19 T Rakau Drive, Woolston
         110 Major Hornbrook Road, St Andrews
         56 St Johns Street, Woolston
        107 Retreat Road, Avonside
        105 Locksley Avenue, Dallington
         21 Colenso Street, Sumner
        154 Kingsford Street, Burwood

Wheelie bins

The earthquake has meant that a lot of Christchurch people are moving from, vacating or demolishing their properties. Here is how to ensure your wheelie bins are looked after and avoid replacement costs as you make decisions about where to live.

In Christchurch’s collection area, wheelie bins are allocated to properties. Lost, stolen or moved wheelie bins incur high costs that the ratepayer absorbs. Help us to keep costs down for everyone by ensuring the right wheelie bins stay at the right properties, and taking care of bins at properties that are being vacated or demolished.

What to do – moving and demolition

· If you are staying somewhere temporarily and need to take your wheelie bins, please contact the Council, so we can keep track of them

          · If your property is being demolished, please contact the Council to arrange for bins to be stored    safely (this service is   free)

         · If you move somewhere else, wheelie bins should be available at your new address. If there are none onsite, please contact the landlord or previous owner. Contact the Council if they are unable to help.

When wheelie bins are put outside the wrong property

The Contractor will put a sticker on the bin to let the householder know if a wheelie bin put out for collection is not the bin allocated to the property. If your bin is stickered and you are unsure why, please contact the Council. If you continue to put bins out at the wrong address, the contractors may not empty these bins and may remove them.

This may mean that the property owner is charged for a new bin, and may have to go without any kerbside collection until a replacement is arranged.

Volunteer update

People who are keen to volunteer to help clear silt in the worse-affected eastern suburbs are able to do so be reporting to the Canterbury A&P Showgrounds staging area (entrance off Curletts Road) tomorrow Saturday 18 June, between 7am-12noon. They will be able to continue to report every day at the same time and place until Friday 24 June.

Out-of-town volunteers will be able to stay in campervans at the A&P Showgrounds. Showers and laundry facilities are available. There will also be showers available for other volunteers.

Volunteers are asked to bring a shovel and, if possible, a wheelbarrow.

All silt must be treated as contaminated and therefore volunteers are asked to wash their hands thoroughly before eating.

Anyone who wishes to donate food for the volunteers can do so at the A&P Showgrounds or PGG Wrightson in Blenheim Road.