Maintenance continues in residential red zones

Christchurch City Council is continuing to carry out maintenance of roads and services in residential red zones, to ensure the areas remain safe for people to live in and travel through.

City Environment General Manager Jane Parfitt says maintenance work will continue while people are living in the residential red zones.

“We want to ensure it is safe for residents who continue to live in these areas and we are continually reviewing the work that needs to be carried out. The amount of maintenance work we carry out has been reduced in some areas, as people move out, however we will continue to keep the areas safe for public use.

“A number of resident groups and individuals have been in contact with the Council to ask about continued maintenance in residential red zones. A description of the work we are doing in these areas is outlined below,” she says.

Berms

The Council is mowing berms on the street-front in the red zone when residents move out of their properties. The Council receives information from CERA when people move out, and these addresses are included in mowing programmes – this reduces the fire risk in the area. It remains the responsibility of the resident to maintain their own gardens and lawns to reduce fire risk.

Footpaths

A footpath will be maintained to a safe, usable standard on at least one side of every road in the residential red zones – this may mean the path is not completely sealed, but it will be safe to use. Areas of higher pedestrian use, around schools and playgrounds, will have sealed footpaths.

Roads

All roads will be maintained to ensure vehicles can drive along them, with a minimum width of six metres. Some roads may not be sealed. Vehicle access to properties will also be maintained to a level where it is safe for residents drive over. Speed limits of 30kmh apply in most red zone areas, and motorists are advised to drive carefully.

Signage

All traffic signs will be maintained, as will essential road markings on sealed streets. Every street will have one readable street sign for emergency services to identify.

Kerb and channel

No repairs or maintenance will be carried out on street gutters, unless property access is affected.

Water and waste services

Water and waste services will be provided to all houses where residents are still living – this will either be through connection to the network or temporary solutions. Some residents have chosen not to pay for repairs to pipes on private property while they remain in their houses; chemical and portable toilets have been provided in these cases. Wheelie bins will be picked up as long as it is safe for trucks to access an area.

Residents may have noticed city contractors capping sewer laterals that run from residents houses to the council sewer in the street and removing water meters from properties that have been purchased by CERA before they are demolished. This work is being done as CERA purchases and takes possession of properties as it reduces operational costs in the residential red zone and protects the services to remaining properties where residents are still living.