Special Earthquake Update 2

Much has happened since my last newsletter. Of particular note was the memorial service where close to 100,000 people gathered to remember what we’ve all been through. It was a moving ceremony. I was pleased to experience it with a number of my friends and I hope you did the same.

Me laying a wreath at the memorial service	With fellow MPs at the memorial service

What’s been Buzzing in the Beehive?

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA)

The Government is determined to rebuild Christchurch bigger and better following the series of devastating earthquakes. Billions of dollars will be spent fixing Canterbury and the job requires a centralised response. That’s why legislation was passed last week in Parliament to establish the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA). CERA is a stand-alone government department that will provide effective leadership and coordination of the on-going recovery effort in Canterbury. I was privileged to have been part of the Select Committee process, with an opportunity to listen to submissions and help mould the policy. CERA will help us to get back to some sense of normality; everyday things that first world countries take for granted such as working toilets, passable roads and, most importantly, a warm, safe house. You can hear me talking on the bill at http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/8427

CERA will have a lifespan of five years and its operations will be reviewed annually. See
www.cera.govt.nz for more details.

Royal Commissioners and terms of reference announced

Sir Ron Carter and Richard Fenwick will join Hon Justice Mark Cooper on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure caused by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Sir Ron has an engineering background, and has led a number of high profile reviews, while Richard Fenwick is a leader in earthquake engineering, and an Adjunct Associate Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Canterbury.

The Commission will investigate the factors leading to building failure, and assess current rules for the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings. It will also make recommendations to prevent or minimise building failure and the adequacy of building requirements.

An interim report will be produced after six months and a final report by 11 April 2012.

More: http://canterbury.royalcommission.govt.nz/

Support for AMI policyholders

Around 80,000 Cantabrians have a policy with AMI. The Government is providing a back-up financial support package for AMI Insurance to give certainty to its tens of thousands of policyholders and to ensure an orderly rebuild of Christchurch.

Helping to rebuild Christchurch is one of the Government’s most important priorities.

It was the Government’s judgment that a support package was necessary to give certainty to policyholders that their claims would be covered. This applies to all AMI policyholders – not just those in Christchurch where AMI has about 35 per cent of the residential insurance market.

The support package would be called on only as a last resort if AMI’s own reserves have been exhausted – unless the Crown believes it is in the public interest to take control sooner. If even $1 of the $500 million package is called on, the Government can take complete control of the company if it needs to.

The alternative of doing nothing would likely have been severe, potentially leaving many thousands of AMI policyholders without the insurance cover and financial resources needed to rebuild.

If Government assistance is needed, we will take every possible step to minimise the cost to taxpayers.

Events such as this show the importance of getting the Government’s finances back into good shape as soon as possible. The Government remains committed to returning to budget surpluses and this arrangement doesn’t alter that commitment.

For more info http://beehive.govt.nz/release/back-financial-support-ami-policyholders

Business community showing confidence

The business community in Canterbury is showing confidence in the future of the region, with ASB and Westpac banks offering practical assistance to help local businesses.

ASB has launched a $250 million package to free up cash flow for small- and medium-sized businesses to help kick-start the recovery. Among other initiatives, the bank will provide $100 million for existing customers, while another $100 million loan support fund will encourage new business in the region.

Westpac has announced a temporary business hub for quake-affected small businesses in Christchurch. The Westpac Business Hub, set to open in early May, will give local small- and medium-sized businesses free access to office space, and key services and networks. It is expected the Hub will be able to house up to 70 businesses at any one time.

Coca-Cola Amital has also committed $15 million to build a state-of-the-art bottling plant in Christchurch. It’s great to see the business community showing confidence in the future of the region. It sends a strong message that Christchurch businesses, despite dealing with disruptive circumstances, continue to be viable.

More info: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/coca-cola-investment-vote-confidence-chch

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-welcomes-westpac-business-hub-christchurch

http://beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-applauds-asb%E2%80%99s-250-million-investment-christchurch

Temporary accommodation support for quake-affected

Temporary accommodation assistance is available to those who have been displaced from their home, to help cover temporary accommodation costs, after their insurance cover has been exhausted. It consists of $180 a week for a one-person household, $275 a week for a two-person household and $330 a week for households of three or more people to cover rental costs.

The assistance is universal and not subject to any income or asset testing.

Also, the Government has appointed six kiwi-based companies to provide temporary accommodation in Christchurch for those whose houses need repairing.

They are Hawkins/Spanbild/Fulton Hogan; Jennian Homes; and New Zealand Transportable Units who will provide the first 300 temporary accommodation units; and Smith Crane; Hawkins Falcon; and Tranzasia who will make up the panel of preferred suppliers.

For more information on temporary accommodation assistance or help in finding temporary accommodation, call 0800 673 227 or visit www.quakeaccommodation.govt.nz

Since the earthquake, the Government has approved hundreds of millions of dollars in wage support and Civil Defence payments.

In the Out-of-Parliament Office…

My office has been inundated with requests for help with earthquake related issues and a few of you have mentioned experiencing difficulty in getting through by phone. If you do have any issues, please send an email with your name in the subject line, an EQC claim number, and bullet pointed issues to aaron.gilmore@national.org.nz and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as we can. The common questions are about the EQC process and problems with insurance companies, which we can help you through.

Land Remediation

We recognise that people want to move on with their lives following this tragedy. That’s why we have to ensure that we have all the scientific and technical data before decisions can be made about how to fix the land. We think there could be thousands of homes now below the safe flooding levels, especially those homes close to the Avon River. This will take some time to collect, collate, and analyse to confirm, so bear with us whilst this important process is implemented. The Government hopes to have an update for the worst affected suburbs by late May.

Fletcher Hub Open

The new Fletcher rebuilding hub has opened down on Bower Avenue next to Dick Taylor Drive. They will deal with claims up to $100,000 including busted chimneys.

Earthquake Community Meetings

Thanks to those 2,000+ people who came to my recent community meetings in Burwood, Avondale, Dallington, Parklands and North New Brighton. I will be holding more meetings after the technical and scientific work on the land has been completed, and we are in a better position to make an informed decision on land remediation. This is likely to be in late May, but I am always happy to meet with you and your neighbours in small groups too.

I also attended Council-held community briefings post 22 February. The latest round was on Saturday 16 April. Go to http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/community-earthquake-briefings/ to see information and videos from past briefings.

In the meantime, the Burwood Christian Centre at 52 Bassett Street has a ‘Live Community Centre’ on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 10.00am-12.30pm each week, which provides a social/recreational venue for the community as well as offering post-earthquake support. Call 383 4895 for further details.

Also, “Munted Mates” a fortnightly evening meet-up has been set up for those going through the insurance/EQC/fixing/rebuilding process. The group is coordinated by Donald Pettitt and Peter Moore, both from South Brighton. Donald and his wife Frauke have had to move out of their home and his aim is to share ideas on post-quake issues. If you want to know more you can contact Donald Pettitt on 388 3803, or Peter Moore on 021-947-032 or go to http://canmen.org.nz/munted-mates/

Project Plant

I am leading a volunteer project with fellow Canterbury-based National MPs to help residents from quake-affected properties to move their garden plants to a new community plant nursery.

The Community Plant Nursery in Marshlands will take plants such as roses, rhododendrons, and small fruit trees from properties from all over Christchurch and Kaiapoi. It is particularly directed at the elderly for whom many have spent years cultivating their beloved gardens.

Plants from damaged properties will be moved by volunteers on 14-15 May under the guidance of Maggie Barry and other gardening experts, to the Community Plant Nursery while owners rebuild or relocate over the next 12-24 months.

In general owners will be responsible for looking after their own plot at the nursery, but support will be available for those with mobility or health issues.

Residents who want their plants moved to the community nursery, or those who wish to volunteer should call 03 382 5617 or email projectplant@parliament.govt.nz before Mothers’ Day (8 May). Donations are welcome to help cover costs.

Prime Minister’s visit to Wainoni/Avonside Community Trust

Over 200 people turned up to see Prime Minister John Key’s visit to the Wainoni/Avonside Community Trust’s 10th birthday celebrations and find out about the good work of the trust. It also gave the PM an opportunity to speak to elderly residents who had been affected by the earthquakes.

One of the problematic issues raised was around the use and emptying of chemical toilets. I am working on a solution to this through the use of Community Service workers to bring back a ‘night cart’ service for the elderly. Below is a picture care of Mainland Press from the day.

The PM cutting the 10th Anniversary cake with Betty Chapman of the Wainoni/Avonside Community Trust

Tips On Getting Yourself Organised

I thought I’d share some contents of an article in the Christchurch Press’ Good Living supplement on 7 April. Janine Starks, a financial agony aunt, offered some useful tips on getting yourself organised if you’ve been affected by the earthquakes:

• Start a folder: if your home is affected, a summary page with your details, EQC claim number, insurer’s details and policy number; full list of contact details for your assessor, claims handler, engineer, builder, moving company, storage unit so you have everything in one place
• File your paperwork: include correspondence from insurer, assessor, EQC etc; property title; floor plans; photos of damage; content claim; have a notes page to write down details of phone calls and what was said; confirm any verbal conversations to your claims handler or assessor.
• Start collecting information: eg building reports, building quotes, engineer’s report, floor plans etc. Every broken item should be photographed and numbered on a written schedule with a quote for replacement.
• Read your policy document: check everything is included such as decks etc.
• Find out what EQC don’t cover: go straight to your insurer for repairs to fences, patios, paths, pools, driveways.
• Get proactive: get your own engineer report done.
• Stay proactive with your assessor

Tap water safe to drink

The boil water notice was lifted on Friday 8 April across all suburbs in Christchurch, Lyttelton, and Banks Peninsula, which is a significant milestone in the repair of Canterbury’s infrastructure.

Despite tap water now being safe to drink, people should still conserve water to avoid putting undue pressure on it. The Christchurch City Council will continue sampling to ensure that water remains safe to drink.

The Canterbury District Health Board plans to remove the chlorine from the Christchurch water supply as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

More: http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/2011/04/08/media-advisory-500-pm-friday-8th-april-public-information-update/

Out and About

Working for 0800 Hungry – we delivered over 500 food parcels that day through North Beach	The new power lines going in to support North East Christchurch
New Brighton Police ticketing drivers last week in the under 30km per hr zone	Helping mum and dad dig silt from their place
Chris Tremain MP – Hawkes Bay colours – lending a hand digging out Burwood with me and the Farmy Army	Sam Johnson, leader of the student army and me in Avondale

Until Next Time…

The Government has spent around $1.1 billion to date responding to both the September and February earthquakes. More than $840 million of this has been for residential claims paid out by EQC, while $180 million has been spent on the wage subsidy and job loss cover packages. The Earthquake Commission now has over 300,000 claims registered from both quakes and the major aftershocks. If your property has been damaged or experienced more damage from the 22 February earthquake, you will need to lodge a new EQC claim. Don’t forget you have until Monday 23 May 2011 to lodge your EQC claim. To lodge a claim call 0800 DAMAGE (0800 326 243) or visit www.eqc.govt.nz

The cordon in Christchurch CBD has gradually reduced in size, though some areas are still no-go zones. Almost all schools have reopened, albeit with disruption at some sites, and nearly all households now have power and running water and while the good people of Orion are working their guts out to put in extra power lines to keep the lights on for winter, it will be some time before our sewage system is working properly again.

Rebuilding Canterbury is one of the Government’s highest priorities and we will continue to provide the resources to make this happen over the coming weeks, months, and years.

If you’d like Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) Updates, you can find them here:

on facebook: www.facebook.com/ceraupdates & twitter: http://twitter.com/ceraupdates

Regards,

Aaron Gilmore

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