Latest updates
Private rockfall protection structures funding - 8 May 2013
Applicants wishing to apply for funding of a Private Rockfall Protection Structure (RPS) will need to complete the Application Form for Funding of a Private Rockfall Protection Structures and the Conditions of Private Rockfall Protection Structure Funding if they have received a CROWN Red Zone Offer for their property and they have obtained the relevant Resource and Building Consents for the RPS.
The Conditions of Private Rockfall Protection Structure Funding require that you take legal, planning and other professional advice in respect of your funding application and that your solicitor certifies that you have been given independent legal advice. All funding applications must be accompanied by a signed Conditions of Private Rockfall Protection Structure Funding form.
As the final Funding Agreement will vary depending on the circumstances of each application, a property specific Funding Agreement will be sent to the applicant once their funding application has been lodged.
FAQs
FAQs from the Rockfall Protection Structure Forum - 11 Feb 2013
Approved geoprofessionals list - 5 Feb 2013
A Technical Guideline for Rockfall Protection Structures has been developed by Christchurch City Council to assist property owners with the consenting process. The Technical Guideline specifies the use of an Approved Geoprofessional for the design of Rockfall Protection Structures.
Approved Geoprofessionals are NZ Chartered Professional Engineers with experience in the field of Rockfall Protection Structures and who hold suitable insurance policies to cover their advice.
If you wish to engage a Geoprofessional we recommend that you can contact one of the engineering providers below (listed alphabetically), who have geotechnical engineers and enquire whether they have a Chartered Professional Engineer who has experience in the field of Rockfall Protection Structures who can assist you, and whether their company holds suitable insurance policies to cover their advice.
List of engineering providers [PDF 200KB]
Christchurch City Council is unable to provide recommendations for Geoprofessionals, as the engagement of the engineer is a matter for the property owner and the Geoprofessional. The Council cannot favour one engineering provider over another.
If you are a provider of Geotechnical Engineering services, have experience in the design of Rockfall Protection Structures, have Chartered Professional Engineers on staff and hold suitable insurances and are interested in being included on this listing please contact the customer call centre 03 941 8999 or email porthillsgeotech@ccc.govt.nz.
Funding for Private Rockfall Protection Structures - 21 December 2012
Following a decision by Councillors on 6 December 2012, owners of Port Hills property, who have received a red-zone offer, may apply to the Council for funding to erect a private rockfall protection structure. The Council will consider the feasibility of proposed rock protection structures on a case-by-case basis.
Any proposed rock protection work must comply with the approved Technical Guideline and Design Approach for Rockfall Protection Works [PDF 600KB]. Landowners would have to agree to the approved Maintenance Regime for the rockfall protection works constructed to protect private houses on private land.
To assist applicants considering whether to apply for funding for a private rockfall protection structure, an information pack [PDF 600KB] has been prepared. The information includes an outline of the funding process, frequently asked questions and a pre-application form.
Council releases rockfall mitigation design strategy - 31 Oct 2012
The purpose of this high level document from Laurie Richards (a rock engineering consultant) was to suggest design strategy for rockfall mitigation in the Port Hills. It does not discuss mitigation options for individual properties.
Key points discussed include: the appropriate design earthquake, suitable design criteria, mitigation options, the effectiveness of barrier systems and maintenance issues. Key conclusions are that protective works must be designed for seismic conditions, that rock catch fences will not provide a global fix for rockfall problems in the Port Hills, and that bunds are more robust than catch fences and are likely to be the preferred barrier option where the slopes are suitable. The document uses examples from the Avoca Valley and Heathcote/Morgans Valley to illustrate the general design principles and issues outlined
Port Hills rockfall mitigation - design strategy [PDF 3MB]
Future planning on the Port Hills - 24 October 2012
The Christchurch City Council is working through a range of issues relating to future planning on the Port Hills. This work includes potential changes to the Christchurch City Plan and Banks Peninsula District Plan, and an amended Infrastructure Design Standard and Technical Standard for Rockfall Protection Structures. These changes are designed to strengthen the Council’s existing consenting processes in line with post-earthquake knowledge.
In November a Council meeting will consider changes to the District Plans relating to the management of land-use and subdivision activities in high risk areas, including potential controls (resource consent requirements) for Rockfall Protection Work (including rockfall protection structures).
As there is currently no New Zealand Standard for Rockfall Protection Structures, the November Council meeting will also consider amendments to its own Infrastructure Design Standard and a new Council Technical Standard for Rockfall Protection Structures.
The amended Geotechnical Requirements of the Infrastructure Design Standard for Rockfall Protection Structures will define the structural and performance criteria for these structures. It will cover such aspects of the structures as warranties, design life and materials, while also specifying the design-review process, stipulating the use of qualified designers and peer reviewers, along with a set of Producer Statements.
The Technical Standard being developed which will provide guidance to property owners, engineers, planners, consultants and contractors on the evaluation, design, consenting and construction of these structures on the Port Hills. It will not be a construction standard but rather key considerations for planning and building Rockfall Protection Structures.
In all cases, it is proposed site-specific assessments and a detailed engineering design will need to be undertaken to determine the viability of protection works for long term rockfall hazard management.
Geotechnical information seminars
The Council worked with the University of Canterbury to host a public geotechnical information seminar on Saturday 13 October for the public to come along and learn more about the information in the GNS Science reports.
Two geotechnical information presentations from this seminar on cliff collapse and rockfall/boulder roll by GNS Science Engineering Geologist Dr Chris Massey are now viewable on Youtube.
Council releases GNS reports on the Port Hills - 28 September 2012
The Christchurch City Council has released seven detailed technical reports on slope instability on the Port Hills. These reports were prepared for the Council by GNS Science in response to the Canterbury earthquakes and contain information to help Council address life-safety risks from rockfall/boulder roll and cliff collapse on the Port Hills. More information is in our media release and the reports are available as downloadable PDF files.
Port Hills announcement on Friday 17 August 2012
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) announced on 17 August 2012 that 121 homes in the Port Hills white zone will be re-zoned red and five properties will be rezoned green, leaving 37 properties white as investigations continue into possible mitigation measures in the Horotane Valley and Bridle Path Road areas. Of the 37, six are in the Horotane Valley and 31 on Bridle Path Road where the relatively large nature of the properties means further investigation is required. More information is in our media release.
The latest Port Hills zoning information is available at http://cera.govt.nz/land-information/port-hills
To see a map of the areas affected by the 29 June 2012 land decisions, please visit http://cera.govt.nz/maps/port-hills-land-zone-map/
FAQs on the latest Port Hills zoning information [PDF 200KB]
Port Hills land announcement - Friday 29 June 2012
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) announced on 29 June 2012 that 1107 Port Hills houses would be re-zoned white to green, 285 re-zoned white to red and 166 would remain white while further geotechnical assessments were carried out.
To see a map of the areas affected by the 29 June 2012 land decisions, please visit http://cera.govt.nz/maps/port-hills-land-zone-map/
This announcement has an impact on Christchurch City Council-managed section 124 notices issued in the Port Hills to prohibit occupation of any homes deemed too dangerous to live in by geotechnical experts. Section 124 notices can be issued for one of two reasons: because of geotechnical hazards including rockfall, cliff collapse and landslip or because of structural hazard. The 29 June 2012 announcement affects only geotechnical s124s. The notices indicate a very real, localised danger to residents living in these homes based on the advice of geotechnical experts... -> More info in our media release.
Council letter to residents regarding the Port Hills and Section 124 notices sent on 29 June 2012 announcement. There was a series of seven Community meetings for residents in the Port Hills area in early July 2012.
Port Hills - geotechnical issues
The Port Hills Geotechnical Group - a consortium of geotechnical engineers contracted to the Christchurch City Council - is working in the hills to assess the damage and carry out emergency response work.
Port Hill rockfalls and rockfall sources have been extensively mapped and these maps are now available for downloading as high resolution PDF files.
An email database has been set up for residents seeking more information about the issues - contact porthillsgeotech@ccc.govt.nz with your questions.
Port Hills geotechnical updates for residents
An email circulation list has been set up for residents of affected areas of the Port Hills. Regular electronic updates are sent directly to them, but they can also be downloaded individually by clicking on the links below. You can register to receive email updates by sending an email request to porthillsgeotech@ccc.govt.nz
Updates
19th February - Bridle Path Track North
5 April 2012 - General update
20 February 2012 - Street meetings update plus FAQs
9 February 2012 - Meeting summaries and frequently asked questions
27 January 2012 - Groundtruthing of GNS reports begins
Work underway in the hills
Start work notices for work being carried out in the Port Hills by geotechnical contractors are listed below.
Port Hills geotechnical updates for residents 2011
2011 Updates
20 December 2011 - 1600 properties rezoned from white to green
15 December 2011 - 100% rates relief for at-risk hill homes
15 December 2011 - Media release regarding "Notices to fix" issued on dangerous homes
14 December 2011 - Challenges to assessing life risk
2 December 2011 - Geotech street meetings progress
10 November 2011 - Street meetings update
4 November 2011 - Life risk decision-making process
4 November 2011 - Retaining walls background
28 October 2011 - Port Hills update – street meetings and notice expiry dates
28 October 2011 - Summary of 19 October rainfall event
7 October 2011 - Port Hills street meetings; Assessments and remediation work; Parks and tracks [PDF 60KB]
16 September 2011 Port Hills area-wide update [PDF 88KB]
2 September 2011 Port Hills Stabilisation Update [PDF 100KB]
29 July 2011 Port Hills Stabilisation Update [PDF 100KB]
1 July 2011 Port Hills Stabilisation Update [PDF 100KB]
24 June 2011 Port Hills Stabilisation Update [PDF 100KB]
22 June 2011 Port Hills Stabilisation Update [PDF 100KB]
10 June 2011 Port Hills Stabilisation Update [PDF 100KB]
3 June 2011 Port Hills Stabilisation Update [PDF 100KB]
Access to properties with Section 124 notices
The Section 124 prohibited access notices only apply to the buildings. In general, people are free to go on to the land around their buildings, for example to feed stock, mow lawns or tend gardens. Access will normally be allowed to buildings but in the interests of security and public safety, people wishing to access a building must complete and application form and send it to porthillsgeotech@ccc.govt.nz.
You can download the printable form [PDF 40KB] to complete by hand or a document you can complete on your computer [DOC 60KB].
Voluntary Notice of Intended Demolition of a Property with Section 124 Notice
The Section 124 prohibited access notices only apply to the building on which the notice has been placed. In general, people are free to go on to the land around the buildings, for example to feed stock, mow lawns or tend gardens. Insurance PMO's wishing to access a building to assess for demolition, should in the interests of health and safety, complete an application form and send it to porthillsgeotech@ccc.govt.nz in order to obtain site specific hazard information. PMOs will not be aware of the specific hazards related to a specific property. Council will provide to PMOs site specific geotechnical hazard information about the risks of a dwelling intended for demolition by PMOs. This information can be used by the PMO to develop an appropriate Site Specific Safety Plan (SSSP).
You can download the printable form [PDF 40KB] to complete by hand or a document you can complete on your computer [DOC 60KB].
Port Hills Geotech Factsheets
1. Section 124 notices and what they mean?
2. Cliff collapse
3. Landslides
4. Rockfall (and boulder roll)
5. A fact sheet has been prepared in response to requests from residents and community groups for information on repairing cracks on private land. It provides some information on what residents can do to minimise water getting into ground cracks on their hillside properties. A guide for filling in ground cracks on the Port Hills. [PDF 400KB]
