It is my pleasure to be able to fill in as CERA’s Acting Chief Executive for Roger Sutton who is on a well earned break with his family.
Christmas was a little more stressful for many Cantabrians with the events of December 23rd. The aftershocks caused minor damage and more liquefaction. Most of the damage in the CBD was to unreinforced brick and masonry buildings including the Cathedral. However, the damage to buildings was incremental, not significant.
CERA remains committed to working towards the reopening of the central city and the December aftershocks have not caused any significant impact or delays in achieving that goal.
The ongoing aftershocks often make people feel concerned or anxious. It was reassuring therefore to hear GNS Science and Tonkin & Taylor experts at the briefing on the latest seismic information. They told us their expectation is that the current sequence of earthquakes will decrease over the coming months. They believe that a lot of the stress has already been released on the fault lines closer to the city. As the earthquakes move further away from the city, their impact will lessen as will their magnitude.
GNS scientist Kelvin Berryman said, that these are upsetting events rather than dangerous or damaging events and that while they think we may experience aftershocks for a while, they will become undetectable over time. More details on the briefing can be found at:
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/newsmedia/mediareleases/2012/201201062.aspx
We appreciate that some people still may feel stressed or worried. There are a number of support services available, including counselling services. Information on these services can be found on the CERA website www.cera.govt.nz/support-and-assistance
This summer brings a number of events and activities to Canterbury.
CERA’s pop up picnics and outdoor movies were held during the first 2 weeks of January at 24 locations in the eastern suburbs. Families came and were given free sausages, candy-floss and water and had free face painting, old fashioned games like sack races and tug-of-war and live music. Students were employed through Task Force Green to help run the events which had great feedback. Between 250 and 700 attended each event and people said that they loved being back together in their parks.
The Stronger Christchurch World Buskers Festival begins this Thursday 19 January and runs to 29 January with over 500 shows and 65 acts from 12 countries. Organisers are expecting around 300,000 visitors and Solid Energy have put on free buses for residents in the hardest hit earthquake suburbs to enable all to come to festival. Entry to the festival is free - you just pay performers what you think their act is worth. To find out the details go to: www.worldbuskersfestival.com
This weekend sees other events including the Brooklands Summer Gala, the free community skate jam “Skate Jam Jellie Park”, Ma Bell and The Blue Tones (Lazy Sundays) at Riccarton Bush and the Harlequin Players – Sleeping Beauty and the Frog Prince at Abberly Park. These events are all free and part of the Garden City Summer Times festival. For more information go to: www.summertimes.co.nz
It was great to see people enjoying the sun in Hagley Park on Sunday at the first of 2 Twenty20 cricket games played here this summer. The Canterbury Wizards will play again next month with a match against the South Africa Proteas on Wednesday 15 February from 5pm. Entry to this match will be free for the public.
Also, the 2012 Ellerslie International Flower Show will run 7 – 11 March. For more information go to www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz
There was more good news with Christchurch’s positive review by the Lonely Planet and the city being listed as one of the top 16 cities to watch by ForeignPolicy.com. To help with planning the city’s future we are surveying property and business owners as well as their customers on how they want to rebuild the city centre. The research team, led by Ernst & Young is contacting property and building owners and anyone who wishes to take part in the survey can log on to http://www.centralcitystudy.org.nz
The Christchurch City Council has adopted the final draft Central City Plan which was presented to the Minister for Earthquake Recovery on Wednesday 21 December for consideration. The Plan (known under the CER Act as the recovery plan for the Christchurch CBD) has been notified by Council, on behalf of the Minister, for written public comments which can be made until Friday 3 February 2012. You can go to http://www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/chchearthquake/centralcityplan.aspx
People will be aware that next month will mark the first anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Christchurch City Council has been working with the community, groups, church leaders and Central Government in planning the commemorative events which include a Civic Memorial Service at North Hagley Park from 12 noon until 1.30pm. The Service will have a community focus, including musical accompaniment for the service from Christchurch school children and will observe two minutes' silence from 12.51pm.
Diane Turner
Acting Chief Executive
CanterburyEarthquake Recovery Authority
