Sunday, April 7, 2013

Year 3 CERA. Christchurch CBD Red Zone Trek. EQC Truths

CBD Red Zone Trek. EQC Truths focus. Sun 07.04.13. St Asaph St: I parked my car by a demolition site & a row of brick ghosts, which had rotted on High St for more than 2 years since the 22.02.11 Killer Quake.

2018-19. From McKenzie Willis, Tuam St / High St to St Asaph St / High St, those ghosts would resurrect as concrete, tilt slab offices, High St brick facade intact, incl Duncan's Buildings. The area would be called Salt District.


07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. St Asaph St view, demolition sites, back of High St ruins. Reopened Alice in Videoland (old PO) left






       
High St: The row of brick ghosts, one fire razed, was as rotten as any dangerous, brick ghosts I'd seen post quakes, like brick ghosts on Manchester St, or brick ghosts on Colombo St, Sydenham, all demolished now. Seen from St Asaph St, part demolitions had peeled off back walls, exposing rooms to weathering. Beyond the walls, CBD rebuild beckoned.


07.04.13. Manchester St view, demolition sites, High St ruins. McKenzie Willis left, fire razed bldg right


St Asaph St: I saw a scaffolded ghost with an old HODSON & Co Ltd ad painted on a side wall by a demolition site. Further along, I saw recently opened, St Asaph Street Kitchen & Stray Dog Bar. The restaurant was busy.


07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. St Asaph St view, High St ruins left, old Hodson & Co Ltd ad on wall right


07.04.13. St Asaph St Kitchen carpark, St Asaph St

St Asaph St / Manchester St: Past Theme Basic demolition site, I cut down Manchester St by post quake, black & blue EPIC Innovation shed, ugly rebuild. Next to quake survivor, The Drawing Room I looked at a section of Odeon Theatre roof, which had lain on the demolition site, by the pavement for months, since part demolition of Odeon Theatre: Oregon pine trusses supporting the corrugated iron roof, rusty roller wheels, for Odeon Theatre fly ropes, were attached to beams. Theatre roof was demolished. The auditorium was gutted, jumbled chairs & crumbling inner side walls exposed to weathering.


07.04.13. Post quake EPIC Innovation, Manchester St / Tuam St



07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Part demolished, Odeon Theatre roof, Manchester St


07.04.13. Part demolished, Odeon Theatre, Manchester St




07.04.13. NO ENTRY. Steel mesh fence cordon. Stacked shipping containers. Manchester St / Tuam St, W view, Odeon Theatre facade awaiting restoration left. Old Council bldg far right would be demolished for the new Bus Interchange, May 2015


07.04.13. Manchester St / Tuam St, E view, reopened Alice in Videoland (old PO) left, ruined McKenzie Willis right, facade being restored

Manchester St / Tuam St: By Real Groovy demolition site, Odeon Theatre facade was protected by a triple layer of shipping containers, so the facade could be restored. On the opp cnr Peaches & Cream demolition site grew weeds.

I trekked along an orange, plastic bollard cordon / steel mesh fence cordon corridor for pedestrians, separated from one way Tuam St traffic, past a razor wired & boarded entrance to Sol Sq, past boarded, old Council ghost to Colombo St. Old Council ghost would be demolished for the Bus Interchange, May 2015.

Colombo St / Tuam St: 4 demolition sites, one site turned into a Wilson carpark, adjacent to Tuam St - Lichfield St, temporary Bus Exchange, built on demolition sites. Beyond was post quake Tuam Library in a Council bldg. 16 people died in the vicinity, 22.02.11 Killer Quake, when old brick bldgs collapsed along Colombo St, between St Asaph St & Tuam St crossings.


07.04.13. Colombo St / Mollett St view, demolition sites, abandoned, red zone bldgs. 16 people died in the Mollett St vicinity, 22.02.11 quake. Old Council bldg Tuam St right would be demolished for the Bus Interchange, opened May 2015


07.04.13. Colombo St / Tuam St view, abandoned, red zone bldgs. Old Council bldg right would be demolished for the Bus Interchange, opened May 2015


07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St demolition site view, Lichfield St, red zone, abandoned bldgs. Old bus exchange left, part demolished





07.04.13. Temporary Bus Exchange, carpark view, Wilson carpark on demolition sites & view across Colombo St demolition sites to abandoned, red zone bldgs. Old Council bldg right would be demolished for the Bus Interchange, opened May 2015

Tuam St: Opp the post quake, temporary Bus Exchange, D&A College side wall was graffitied. Graffiti had hugely increased in the CBD & suburbs post quakes.


07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Demolition site, graffiti, abandoned, D&A College wall, Tuam St

Colombo St N: I trekked past demolition sites & blocks of steel mesh fence cordoned, dusty, ghost shops. Orange, plastic bollards formed pedestrian corridors on Colombo St. Drivers along that section of Colombo St weaved their vehicles one-way S from Lichfield St to Tuam St crossings. Multiply that traffic obstruction a 1 000 x for an idea of CERA / SCIRT obstructions drivers endured in post quake Christchurch. Never mind the NZDF cordon around the CBD red zone for 28 months, citizens banned. 


07.04.13. Pedestrian corridor between orange, plastic, road fence & steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned, red zone shops, Colombo St


07.04.13. Pedestrian corridor between orange, plastic bollards & steel mesh fence cordons. Abandoned, red zone shops, Colombo St


07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned, red zone Frontrunner, Lichfield St / Colombo St. See traffic obstructions, incl orange, plastic, road cones & orange, plastic bollards. The bldg would be demolished for the Bus Interchange


07.04.13. USAR / TF graffiti, abandoned, red zone Frontrunner window, Colombo St

Colombo St / Lichfield St: Dusty, Frontrunner ghost, next to a steel mesh fence cordon, blocking off Lichfield St by the pre quakes, Bus Exchange ghost. Behind the red zone, steel mesh fence cordon, Colombo St / Manchester St, a red bus was parked, RED ZONE TOUR in digital letters in front. Frontrunner would be demolished for the Bus Interchange.


07.04.13. NO ENTRY. Orange, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Lichfield St N view, Colombo St walkway to The Crossing. Abandoned shops left, demo site right




07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St view, red zone, tour bus, Lichfield St red zone

Although CERA minister Brownlee had recently stated the red zone CBD was a rebuild zone, there was no rebuilding yet.

Colombo St: Yesterday, CERA opened a red zone, cordon section of Colombo St for pedestrians only, from Lichfield St to Hereford St crossings. I trekked down Colombo St, past demolition sites, past active Mid City, past National Bank ghost, past reopened Ballantynes, past pre quakes Bus Exchange ghost to The Crossing by Restart Cashel Mall. Except for Ballantynes, all shops along Colombo St were ghosts.


07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St demolition site, abandoned, red zone bldgs by The Crossing





 

Colombo St: I stopped at the Bus Exchange ghost by The Crossing & looked at dusty glass doors & windows of shops, closed since the 22.02.11 Killer Quake, 2 years before. Cosmetics were scattered from low shelves on one shop floor. Upper shelves still held more cosmetics perfectly intact. Those ghost shops still had intact awnings. Much damage was caused by collapsed awnings in the quakes. I liked copper, lion heads on the Bus Exchange ghost awning. USAR / TF graffiti still besmirched shop windows & doors. The lion heads awning would resurrect post quakes, part of a revamped facade.


07.04.13. Red zone, abandoned, Bus Exchange view, The Crossing, Colombo St / Cashel St. Abandoned Pagoda Court Restaurant beyond left would be demolished, 2018-19, for Kathmandu new build


07.04.13. USAR / TF graffiti, Colombo St, nr The Crossing




07.04.13. Lion head decorated awning, abandoned, red zone Bus Exchange, Colombo St



07.04.13. Quake strewn cosmetics, red zone, abandoned, Bus Exchange shop, Colombo St

Colombo St / Cashel St, The Crossing: Cashel St E was a vast demolition site, with views across demolition sites to High St & Hereford St. A couple of ghosts haunted the demolition site. Westpac, Holiday Inn & Hotel Grand Chancellor were gone, demolished. A tangle of steel rebars lay on rubble.

I looked through Starbucks ghost, dusty windows. Furniture was abandoned in the 22.02.11 Killer Quake, over 2 years before. Dust lay thick on furniture by the fireplace, ceiling panels hung loose. 


07.04.13. Abandoned, red zone shops, incl Pagoda Court Restaurant, The Crossing, Colombo St / Cashel St. 2018-19. Pagoda Court would be demolished for Kathmandu new build


07.04.13. The Crossing, Cashel St view, demolition sites, red zone, abandoned bldgs



07.04.13. Red zone, boarded, abandoned Starbucks, Cashel St





07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. 2 yellow diggers, demo rubble. Red zone, abandoned, Westpac demolition site, Cashel St / High St

 




07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned, Holiday Inn, demolition site, Cashel St / High St



07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Two diggers. High St view, red zone, Hotel Grand Chancellor, demolition site, Cashel St








07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. High St NW view, red zone, demolition sites, abandoned shops towards Cathedral Sq



07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned, Jeanswest, High St




07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. High St SW view, across Cashel St demolition sites, red zone, abandoned bldgs by The Crossing. Reopened Ballantynes right. The demo site would become ANZ Centre, 2016




Colombo St, The Crossing: I trekked N along Colombo St, past bright painted, planter boxes: a row of trees & garish painted, road patterns, past Pagoda Court Restaurant ghost, where Luke had recently bought a fish tank from the owner, trying to recoup quake losses. I trekked past McDonald's & KFC demolition sites. Only Timezone ghost haunted the vicinity. 2018-19. Pagoda Court would be demolished for Kathmandu new build.


07.04.13. Red zone, abandoned, Pagoda Court restaurant, Colombo St. 2018-19. Pagoda Court would be demolished for Kathmandu new build


07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned Timezone, flanked by demolition sites, Colombo St. Restart Cashel Mall shipping containers left


07.04.13. Colombo St S view, demolition sites, red zone, abandoned bldgs by The Crossing












07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon, orange, plastic bollard cordon. Colombo St NW view, demolition sites towards Hereford St crossing & red zone, abandoned, Cathedral Sq. Abandoned Government Life left, awaited demolition. Chalice middle would survive the quakes


07.04.13. The Crossing view, Restart Cashel Mall. Reopened Ballantynes left


07.04.13. Restart Cashel Mall where 4 people died in the 22.02.11 quake. Bridge of Remembrance beyond

Back at The Crossing, I chatted to the red-coat, tricorn hatted, Town Crier who said he was there every day. An anachronism. I didn't look at recently opened High St & Hereford St niches as I'd seen them last weekend.


07.04.13. Town Crier, The Crossing, Cashel St / Colombo St


07.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. The Crossing, E view, red zone, Cashel St, abandoned bldgs. Westpac & Holiday Inn demolition sites right

Cashel Mall - Cashel St: E along Cashel St, vast demo sites would become part of CERA's retail precinct, the W - E vista from Bridge of Remembrance down Restart Cashel Mall past Ballantynes & the retail precinct & E to CTV demolition site, where 115 people died in the CTV collapse & burn, 22.02.11 Killer Quake.

Cashel St / Colombo St: W side, BNZ Centre would be built. E side, ANZ Centre would be built.

*Trekked St Asaph St, Manchester St, Colombo St, Cashel St, High St. 85 snaps.

Mon 08.04.13. The Press reported on EQC Truths: An anonymous blogger (ex EQC) had received another EQC email leak giving claimants' details. The EQC Truths blogger said he'd divulge information to claimants who provided ID, as it was their right to get personal information held by a NZ National govt dept, which EQC wasn't providing, despite requests from claimants. Staples was helping EQC Truths blogger with ID details on the latest email leak.

One News reported that EQC boss Simpson got a High Court interim injunction against Staples & EQC Truths blogger. Bullying again by EQC, as EQC's ineptitude & short-changing of claimants would be clarified by exposure & transparency. Simpson was quick with legal action, but slow with EQC assessments & payouts. Instead of enriching lawyers with his ass covering, pity Simpson didn't devote energy to paying claimants what they deserved & fixing quake damaged housing pronto. It was 2.5 years since the 04.09.10 Darfield Quake & over 2 years since the 22.02.11 Killer Quake. Where was CERA minister Brownlee, Simpsons' boss, in the EQC leak fiasco?

Wed 10.04.13. EQC Truths blog: "EQC Truths intends to Release All Information within 24 hours." The blogger implied that blogging was offshore, therefore NZ High Court injunction was a waste.

Thurs 11.04.13. EQC Truths blogger said the information wouldn't be released within 24 hours as the overseas source had advised regarding the High Court injunction that EQC Truths blogger would be in contempt of court & needed to self protect.

EQC Truths blogger challenged Simpson to a public TV debate, 6pm, 11 April, "or else I will reveal everything."

EQC Truths blogger implied the overseas source would leak the EQC information. Failing that, EQC Truths blogger would still leak it. There would also be "more damning revelations" about EQC.

The TV debate didn't happen, so EQC Truths said the spreadsheet information for 67 000 claimants was leaked offshore, online by the original leaker via File Dropper website. According to EQC Truths, although 1 000s of people checked the link, it was taken down within hours, then uploaded again on other links. 

Fri 12.04.13. One News reported Simpson's minimising comment: "the bulk of the information is already known to customers." Why the injunction Simpson?

Sat 13.04.13. Greers Rd: Protesting teachers whined at Brownlee's Ilam office. I guessed those unionised teachers feared NZ National govt touting of Charter Schools. Leah, highly specialized, experienced teacher, saw Charter Schools as a professional opportunity.

Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.

See Homeowners can use OIA to get EQC info (The Press / Stuff Co).


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