Government packages give residents options

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the Government package announced today gives clarity and options to the city’s residents in the hardest hit suburbs.

The Government today released information on land damage in greater Christchurch – mapping the land into four zones – red, orange, green and white. Most homes in Christchurch (around 100,000 homes) are in the green zone where there has been no significant land damage and where the repair/ rebuild process can begin.

Residential red zones, which involved around 5000 properties, are where the land is unlikely to be built on for a considerable period of time. The Government will make an offer to purchase the property at the current rating value, less any built insurance payments made, or to purchase the land only, with homeowners continuing to deal with their own insurer about their homes.

Further assessment of land is required in the orange zone (around 10,000 properties) where damage ranges from moderate to very severe and new damage may have occurred following the 13 June aftershock. Residential white zone includes areas such as the Port Hills and Central Business District which are either still being mapped or are not residential land.

Mr Parker says the message from the Government is clear and “fair”.

“The situation facing our city is unprecedented in size, scale and complexity. This was never going to be an easy decision. From the outset the Government and local authorities in Greater Christchurch have been working together in the interests of our residents. Today’s announcement is a step forward on our road to recovery,” Mr Parker says.

“Residents in the hardest hit eastern suburbs have been seeking certainty on the future of their properties for a number of months and I applaud the Government for being today advising them of their options. They now have certainty and some tangible options.”

A website www.landcheck.org.nz has been set up for individual property to log on and find out in which zone their property has been mapped into.

Mr Parker welcomes this initiative and also looks forward to taking part in the series of community meetings in the next week.

“Understandably residents will have a lot of questions for the Government and I encourage those affected residents to come along to these meetings,” he says

Affected property owners in the red zone will be contacted by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority about meetings in their areas. Further information about today’s announcement can be found at www.cera.govt.nz