Demolition of abandoned properties in earthquake-hit North Canterbury will begin this month.
While media attention has been focused upon the impending demolition of Christchurch cathedral, earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said yesterday the levelling of red-zoned houses bought by the Government would resume this month in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs and extend into Kaiapoi, Pines Beach and Kairaki.
However, the affected properties would not be made public because of security concerns.
“We’ve already noticed that making widespread announcements about exactly which houses are being demolished and exactly when they’re likely to be demolished does tend to make them a target for criminal elements,” he said.
“We want to avoid that sort of situation because a lot of these houses are in close proximity to other residential areas.”
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera) would instead consult directly with neighbours and police.
Brownlee said last month’s demolition test run in Bexley and Dallington, where one contractor was assigned a cluster of houses to demolish, worked “very well”.
“The trial confirmed the theory that working with a bundle of properties at one time works well and is cost-effective. It means that a single contractor can develop a programme and operate within a community with least disruption as possible.”
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