With Banks Peninsula entering the recovery period after a week of wet weather, flooding and land slips, Christchurch City Council has made a designation on the area under the Building Act.
This designation is a step that allows Council teams to continue to work to reduce risk, and to better understand any potential impacts on people, property and infrastructure, even once a State of Emergency has been lifted. This makes it much easier to help keep people and property safe over the long-term.
To help keep people safe, the Local State of Emergency empowers the Council to perform Rapid Building Assessments of buildings that may have been damaged, and put a coloured notice (placard) on it that lets everyone know its status. Normally, when the Local State of Emergency is lifted, those notices no longer apply. However, designating an area under the Building Act extends their legal force for as long as needed. It’s a simple step that means we can manage the safety of each building over the long-term, as well as any emerging issues. You can find more information at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment(external link). We understand that land stability is a significant worry for residents and the community, and we want to reassure you that a lot of work is happening at our end. We have experience in responding to this type of event. We’ll continue to monitor the land instability across the district to determine if there are any long-term patterns of movement, and what sort of work will be required to make the area safe and stable. We also understand that many of those affected are looking for clear information and what work will be carried out and when. We’re actively working to provide residents with updates when we have information to share. If you or someone you know needs immediate welfare assistance, please contact our community support team(external link). We’re committed to keeping you informed. For updates, email us or to speak to our staff, phone 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 169.