My text reply: "A fulla shit day."
CERA sucked: You'd think that CERA's brat SCIRT would've learnt that operating sucker trucks on London St in the middle of a working day was taboo. That back-flushing was done by sucker trucks all over Christchurch, ever since the 04.09.10 Darfield Quake, nearly 3 years before.
Yesterday CERA had opened its maze a little into Cathedral Sq, via Worcester St Bridge, past Cathedral Sq NZDF checkpoint, Gloucester St / Colombo St. Nothing new to see since I'd last trekked that way: 4 CERA utes parked on Worcester St Bridge; NO ENTRY Our City, Otautahi, Old Municipal Chambers, steel braced (2021. Restoration would begin); demolition sites; ghost bldgs; steel mesh fence cordons; Christ Church Cathedral ghost; workmen still repairing Novotel.
15.05.13. Post quake construction site, Cambridge Tce / Gloucester St
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Worcester St Bridge view, abandoned bldgs around Cathedral Sq. Quake ruined Christ Church Cathedral middle
15.05.13. NO ENTRY. Steel mesh fence cordon. Oxford Tce view, Worcester St Bridge. Council bldg, HSBC Tower left. Steel braced Our City right. 2021. Restoration would begin on Our City, Otautahi, Old Municipal Chambers
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Worcester St Bridge, S view, Oxford Tce towards Restart Cashel Mall
Oxford Tce view: steel mesh fence cordoned, Clarendon Tower demolition site, opp Rydges Hotel ghost, carpark garage ghost behind, threat sign:
CONSTRUCTION SITE
DANGER
KEEP OUT
CERA bullshit, as in 2023 Rydges Hotel & garage would still be ghosts behind steel mesh fence cordons!
Cathedral Sq, S side: Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel left, PO ghost, Telecom middle. 2016. Millennium Hotel would be restored as Distinction Hotel
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned shop, Rydges Hotel block, Worcester St
Cathedral Sq: Saw ghost high rises, like asbestos riddled Government Life; Heritage Hotel; Christ Church Cathedral ghost. Nearby New Regent St: CERA was now anxious for people to visit, after 2 years of red zone, NZDF checkpoints, steel mesh fence cordons & citizen bannings.
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq view, red zone Government Life awaited demolition left. Repaired Novotel right, Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel behind
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone Cathedral Sq view, repaired Novotel, Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel left. Ruined Christ Church Cathedral right
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned, old PO / Tourist Information, Telecom behind, Cathedral Sq. 2021. Old PO would be restored
15.05.13.Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned, Telecom bldgs, Cathedral Sq
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned Heritage Hotel, Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel left. Both hotels would be restored. Part demolished BNZ right, would be fully demolished 2017, Cathedral Sq. Spark multi-storey bldg would be built on site
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St view, red zone, Farmers demolition site, abandoned Chancery Ln Arcade left, Central Library right awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae. Abandoned Craigs House & Victoria Square flats behind, awaited demolitions for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae
15.05.13. Cathedral Sq view, red zone, demolition site, salvage steel by abandoned Government Life right, awaiting demolition. Abandoned Victoria Square apartments behind, awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned, boarded, Government Life, awaited demolition, Cathedral Sq
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone abandoned bldgs, Cathedral Sq. Telecom Left. Central Police, Hereford St, behind NZ flag awaited 30.05.15 implosion. Government Life right awaited demolition
You'd think CERA would open the shortest route from Restart Cashel Mall, past Christ Church Cathedral ghost, to recently reopened New Regent St, battling to attract custom. Instead rubberneckers were looped along Oxford Tce & down Worcester St, past Clarendon Tower demolition site, to zombie Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint & Gloucester St.
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned Tram Stop, CERA office, wooden hut, Cathedral Sq
15.05.13. Red zone, CERA office huts behind plinth, sans statue, Cathedral Sq
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, ruined Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Sq. 2016. Abandoned Millennium Hotel right would be restored as Distinction Hotel
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. 2 cranes. Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, red zone, abandoned Camelot Hotel left, awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild. Repaired Novotel middle. Repaired Cathedral Junction right.
That loop stopped people wandering past ANZ demolition site & part-demolished BNZ demolition site, of asbestos notoriety, Colombo St / Hereford St. Meanwhile CERA's cabin offices squatted behind steel mesh fence cordons in Cathedral Sq by Telecom ghost. As usual, NZDF soldiers did checkpoint duty at Colombo St / Cathedral checkpoint, opp Camelot Hotel ghost, awaiting demo.
15.05.13. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, red zone, abandoned, Camelot Hotel, awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild
15.05.13. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Colombo St / Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, ruined Christ Church Cathedral. NZDF soldier doing checkpoint duty. 2016. Abandoned Millennium Hotel behind would be restored as Distinction Hotel
NZDF checkpoint sign:
NO
PUBLIC
ACCESS
PAST THIS POINT
CERA PASSES ONLY
15.05.13. Fletcher builder sign. Colombo St / Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint, red zone fence. Government Life awaited demolition behind
Cathedral Sq viewed from Oxford Tce: From Robert Falcon Scott plinth (fallen statue removed) & across Clarendon Tower demolition site, Christ Church Cathedral ghost was drab, dwarfed by ugly ghosts around Cathedral Sq: Rydges Hotel, Government Life, Novotel, The Press, Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel, Cathedral Junction, Heritage Hotel, Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel, Telecom, old PO & Tourist Information, Public Trust Office. Hidden from that view were more ugly ghosts: Chancery Ln & Arcade, Camelot Hotel, BNZ & demolition sites.
Three security staff wearing yellow, Hi-Vis vests prowled Cathedral Sq. Once CBD steel mesh fence cordons would fall for good, cops would have their work cut out when taggers & thieves invaded the deserted CBD. For months in the residential red zone, thieves would steal recyclable goods, like hot water cylinders.
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Yellow, Hi-Vis vested, security staff, Cathedral Sq
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq security staff by Oxford Tce & Worcester St Bridge. HSBC Tower left, abandoned, steel braced, Our City right. 2021. Our City / Otautahi would be restored
So far, CERA's so-called CBD "rebuild" was a hotchpotch of gasping, little businesses & food trailers in a vast matrix of ghosts & weedy, dusty, demolition sites, all bordered by NZDF checkpoints & steel mesh fence cordons with threat sighs: DANGER, HAZARD... CERA had exhausted itself demolishing bldgs for 2 years & publishing a NZ National govt / CERA Blueprint for CBD precincts & anchor projects. CERA minister Brownlee's so-called "rebuild" would stagnate for the next couple of years with little action on Blueprint precincts & anchor projects.
But over the next few years, huge private sector developments would happen like BNZ Centre & ANZ Centre, Cashel St; The Terrace, Oxford Tce; Awly Building, Durham St Nth.
Oxford Tce: Steel mesh fence cordons, demolition sites, ghosts, like Rydges Hotel & Public Trust Office, flanking Clarendon Tower demolition site. 2020. Public Trust Office would be restored.
15.05.13. Oxford Tce view, Clarendon Tower demolition site, abandoned bldgs around ruined Christ Church Cathedral middle
15.05.13. DANGER KEEP OUT. Abandoned Public Trust Office, Oxford Tce. 2020. The bldg would be restored
Hereford St: Steel mesh fence cordons, demolition sites, ghosts, like Equitable House & Scorpio Books. Tete a Tete ghost still teetered by Wilson carpark on a demolition site by Restart Cashel Mall back entrance. Telecom was being repaired. Ibis Hotel was open. Example of post quake, business disruption: Scorpio Books relocated to Restart Cashel Mall for a couple of years, then would relocate back to new BNZ Centre, Hereford St in 2016.
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned Scorpio Books, Hereford St. Scorpio Books relocated to Restart Cashel Mall for a couple of years, then would relocate back to new BNZ Centre, Hereford St, 2016
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Hereford St: Abandoned Tete a Tete / Shands Emporium & abandoned Central Police left, awaiting 30.05.15 implosion. Abandoned Equitable House right. Council bldg beyond right. Shands Emporium would be relocated to Manchester St next to Octagon Restaurant / Trinity Church
15.05.13. Demolition site, Wilson carpark, Restart Cashel Mall back entrance, Hereford St
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Hereford St: Red zone, abandoned bldg left. Telecom Green middle right. Reopened Ibis Hotel right
Colombo St / Hereford St: So-called art in the CBD had degenerated to junk art & Council was paying so-called artists huge fees for sticking or painting rubbish on demolition site walls, like painted, diagonal, parallel lines between public toilet ghost & IBM demolition site, Hereford St. On the steel mesh fence cordon surrounding the ANZ / IBM demo site, a threat sign:
DANGER
KEEP OUT
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Hereford St view, IBM demolition site, abandoned or part repaired bldgs around ruined Christ Church Cathedral
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Post quake, junk art on Ibis Hotel wall, by IBM demolition site, next to abandoned public toilets, Hereford St
15.05.13. DANGER KEEP OUT. Steel mesh fence cordon. Hereford St / Colombo St view, ANZ & IBM demolition sites. Abandoned Cathedral Sq bldgs beyond - public toilets left, old PO & Tourist Information middle, Telecom behind, Government Life right awaited demolition
15.05.13. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Part demolished BNZ, Hereford St / Colombo St. Demolition completed 2017. Spark multi-storey offices would be built on site, 2019.
High St: I trekked SE down recently opened High St from Hereford St crossing to Tuam St crossing, just 5 businesses open. Many demolition sites behind steel mesh fence cordons, parked diggers & ghosts behind cordon fences, a sushi bar & cafe open below recently reopened Avonmore Tertiary Institute. (Avonmore would be liquidated 2018). On my right, ANZ Centre would be built on a vast demo site towards Colombo St, 2015-16.
2019. Cashel St: Holiday Inn demolition site, basement carpark: concrete columns would still stand, steel rebar tangles on top. Across Cashel Street, on Hotel Grand Chancellor demo site, Grand Central Building, massive, multi-storey office space, would open in 2017 for lease to government employees.
15.05.13. Reopened Sushi below Avonmore Tertiary Institute, High St
15.05.13 Steel mesh fence cordon. High St view, demolition site by The Crossing, Cashel St / Colombo St. The demolition site would become ANZ Centre, built 2015-16. Reopened Ballantynes middle, flanked by abandoned bldgs
15.05.13. High St view, demolition site, red zone, abandoned bldgs towards Manchester St
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned, red zone bldg, High St
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. High St view, Westpac demolition site, more demolition sites towards Lichfield St. Closed old Council bldg beyond would be demolished for the new Bus Interchange
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordons. High St view towards Cathedral Sq
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. High St / Cashel St, W view towards Restart Cashel Mall. Bldgs mostly abandoned
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Tyres. Yellow digger. Cashel St view, Westpac demolition site, red zone, abandoned bldgs
15.05.13. Red zone, abandoned shop, High St
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Yellow digger. High St view, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Holiday Inn demolition sites, abandoned bldgs
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. High St view, Holiday Inn demolition site, abandoned bldgs
Next to WINZ ghost, Bonnington House was scaffolded & being repaired. Scaffolders caused more damage to quake trashed bldgs, by breaking windows, to secure horizontal scaffold poles.
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon, orange, plastic bollards. High St view, abandoned red zone bldgs. Bonnington House under repair left. Abandoned WINZ middle
15.05.13. Green portaloo. Steel mesh fence cordon. Repairs to Bonnington House, High St
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. High St / Manchester St view down High St, flanked by red zone abandoned bldgs to Cathedral Sq
High St / Lichfield St: The only rebuild site, Leighs Construction site, was by a NZDF checkpoint in the red zone cordon. Concrete trucks & workmen poured concrete at first floor level to rebuild Stranges, a glass walled, triangular bldg, which in 2014 would win an award as one of the first rebuilds in the area. New Stranges looked good, but I disliked the old brick bldg behind it, with ground level restaurants along Stranges Ln, between old & new bldgs, awaiting the next big quake strike.
NZDF checkpoint sign:
NO
PUBLIC
ACCESS
PAST THIS POINT
CERA PASSES ONLY
Across Manchester St: CCDU's Blueprint E Frame / Rauora Park gestated, ghosts due for taking by CERA, demolitions & conversion to Rauora Park. Paid for by taxpayers. *Asterisk captions showed E Frame / Rauora Park land & S Frame.
SE view from Manchester St / High St: Junk art on flat roof of CI Cafe / Alice in Videoland / old PO: Blue suited male statue, face glaring down at the zombie CBD, right arm pointing skywards. That ridiculous junk art stood atop the roof for months.
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Orange skip. Stranges rebuild construction site & bldg repair site, High St / Lichfield St / Manchester St
15.05.13. Stranges rebuild construction site, High St / Lichfield St / Manchester St
*15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Orange, plastic bollards. High St view, Majestic House awaited demolition, Manchester St / Lichfield St for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint E Frame & S Frame. Lichfield St was the divide between Blueprint E & S Frames. Nucleus sculpture middle would survive the quakes & CERA demolitions
15.05.13. Manchester St view, red zone, abandoned bldgs flanking Lichfield St & construction site, Manchester St / Lichfield St / High St
15.05.13. ROAD CLOSED. Steel mesh fence cordon. Stranges rebuild site, Manchester St / Lichfield St / High St. NZDF Checkpoint hut, orange, Hi-Vis vested, NZDF soldiers left
15.05.13. ROAD CLOSED. NO PUBLIC ACCESS. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Crane. NZDF checkpoint, Manchester St / Lichfield St / High St. Stranges rebuild site right
15.05.13. Stranges rebuild site, Manchester St / Lichfeld St / High St
High St / Manchester St crossing: Steel mesh fence cordon, demolition sites, ghosts past Struthers Ln to Tuam St.
15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordons. Stacked shipping containers propping a facade. Manchester St / High St view, demolition sites, abandoned bldgs bordering Struthers Ln & Tuam St. Core CBD right. *S Frame left of Manchester St
*15.05.13. Faux pissoir for ads. Steel mesh fence cordon. Stacked shipping containers propping a facade. High St view, S Frame demolition sites, abandoned bldgs. Reopened C1 Cafe / Alice in Videoland / old PO behind
*15.05.13. High St view, junk art atop reopened C1 Cafe / Alice in Videoland / old PO, S Frame
*15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Demolition site, abandoned bldg, facade saved for restoration, High St / Manchester St, S Frame
*15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Demolition site, Majestic House awaited demolition in E Frame, High St / Manchester St / Lichfield St
*15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Demo site. High St view, abandoned bldgs awaited demolition in E frame. IR bldg middle behind would survive the quakes
*15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Stacked shipping containers prop facade saved for restoration in High St, S Frame
HAIRDRESSER
& TOBACCONIST
*15.05.13. Old ad, abandoned CF Cotter & Co, High St, S Frame
*15.05.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Mainz & facade saved for restoration, propped by stacked shipping containers, High St, S Frame
*15.05.13. NO ENTRY. Orange, plastic, road barrier, steel mesh fence cordon. High St bldgs in S frame awaited demolition. Middle bldgs beyond Nucleus sculpture, Manchester St, not in Frame
*15.05.13. S Frame. C1 Cafe / Alice in Videoland / old PO, High St / Tuam St
*15.05.13. S Frame. High St view, Poplar St demolition sites, abandoned bldgs would survive the quakes as Dux Central. IR bldg behind in E Frame would survive the quakes too
*15.05.13. Restoration, McKenzie Willis facade, High St / Tuam St, S Frame
E of Manchester St to Madras St: CCDU's Blueprint E Frame.
S of Lichfield St to St Asaph St: CCDU's Blueprint S Frame. Only CCDU / CERA could tell which ghosts would survive & which would be demolished for parkland, or apartment rebuilds, as NZ National govt's / CERA's / CCDU's hogging the CBD property market enabled CCDU to make offers to Frame property owners, whose CBD properties were red zone, steel mesh fence cordoned by CERA for at least 2 years.
CERA sucked at CBD rebuild. You'd think after 2 years of hogging the NZDF cordoned, red zone CBD, CERA would have many CBD rebuilds going strong. The reality was a depressing, grey void, demolition sites, steel mesh fence cordons, threat signs, ghosts. A night drive down fucked Manchester St was more depressing, a black void. So much for CERA minister Brownlee's "rebuild."
15.05.13. CERA vehicles parked on Worcester St Bridge. Abandoned Cathedral Sq bldgs beyond
15.05.13. Worcester St Bridge view, orange, Hi-Vis vested, CERA officials crossing Cambridge Tce to Worcester Blvd. Council bldg & HSBC Tower left. Harley & Christchurch Art Gallery right. 2022. Harley bldg would still be boarded / abandoned: ASBESTOS & MULTIPLE BUILDING HAZARDS
Worcester Blvd: I trekked back to my car at Botanic Gdns carpark. Some art works were outside the Art Gallery, closed for quake repairs:
1. Giant portrait of a bug eyed woman, staring across Worcester Blvd towards the Council bldg.
15.05.13. Outdoor Art, Christchurch Art Gallery, Worcester Blvd
2. Two giant, silver gnomes straddling Art Gallery steps, also staring at the Council bldg.
15.05.13. Outdoor art, Christchurch Art Gallery, Worcester Blvd
3. Montreal St side of Art Gallery: By a locked gallery door, a giant photo of a bricked up door in a brick wall of the old Stables, Bedford Row. Council would've paid 1 000s of dollars for the junk art. Quake Recovery: What was beyond the wall?
15.05.13. Outdoor Art, Christchurch Art Gallery, Montreal St
4. On an opp wall of a small bldg, 2 stripey lounge lizards stared blankly at the Art Gallery.
15.05.13. Outdoor art, Christchurch Art gallery, Montreal St
15.05.13. Faux pissoir, ads, Rolleston Ave, nr Hagley Park
*Trekked Worcester St, Cathedral Sq, Oxford Tce, Hereford St, High St, Worcester Blvd. 134 images.
On my return home, our daft neighbour stood by our gate. She had 4 adult offspring & lived alone in a state house on the dole. Years ago, I'd trespassed her from our property, as she'd pestered us with petty domestic problems: "Can I use your phone?... Can I borrow your mower?..." She'd hassled Luke when he was a high school student. She'd once cheeked Leah at our front door, the last straw. Banned! Leah's & my adult son's taxes paid for her dole life. This time, another pathetic request:
"Can you fill my empty gas bottle?"
"No!" I replied. She left muttering. State Housing New Zealand dumped mental cases amongst citizens, without warning citizens of crazies in our midst. She also pestered other neighbours with sob stories & aggressive behaviour. Cops were called.
Meanwhile Heritage hailers, Anderton, Belton & Co, nagged again, wanting Council to cough up $10m spread over 10 years for their Christ Church Cathedral restoration. Never mind that the Anglican diocese owned Cathedral Sq land & Cathedral. Like my daft neighbour, Heritage hailers expected others to pay for their welfare-statism. Not a word about raising funds themselves for their Cathedral restoration. Anderton, Belton & Co needed to walk in Hagley Park, beneath magnificent avenues of trees, planted by Victorians. There they'd see cathedrals, quake survivors, quake dancers, not needing $millions for restorations.
Never mind atheists, agnostics, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, other religions in Christchurch. I doubted they'd be happy paying rates for 10 years for restoration of a mock Gothic Cathedral. Like my neighbour's bludging, Heritage hailers demanded others pay for their follies.
Fri 17.05.13. 3.59pm, M4.2 quake, 6km depth, 25km W of Christchurch (GeoNet). Rumbled by while I edited pics.
Leah drove home early that afternoon from her London St school, as SCIRT's excavation thumpings in front of the school by her classroom were driving her bonkers. She'd endured SCIRT's digger joltings & thumpings & truck shakings for months.
Thurs 23.05.13. PM Key grinned on One News TV at Stranges rebuild site, High St / Lichfield St / Manchester St crossing, giving the false impression that High St was bustling with rebuilds. In reality it was devastated: demolition sites, ghosts, ROAD CLOSED, DANGER KEEP OUT, NO PUBLIC ACCESS threat signs, steel mesh fence cordons & a NZDF checkpoint by the construction site, banning public.
CERA's media release, 23.05.13, boasted about only 2 more construction sites in the CBD, Gloucester St & Kilmore St, hardly a ramping up rebuild.
CERA's sucking reduced to who paid? Neither PM Key nor One News mentioned that across Manchester St ghost bldgs loomed in CCDU's / NZ National govt's E Frame land-grab, where properties would be taxpayer bought, taken by CERA / NZ National govt & turned into Rauora Park to increase land prices in CCDU's core CBD.
So far, Stranges rebuild was the only High St construction site. It was surrounded by a NZDF cordon, demolition sites, ghosts & NZ National govt decreed destruction of scores of E Frame properties across the road. The TV photo op was NZ National govt's / CERA's ploy to fool the rest of NZ into thinking all was well in Christchurch. NZ National govt / CERA / CCDU excelled at propaganda photo ops, but failed at fast rebuild.
So far, nearly 1 000 days post 04.09.10 Darfield Quake, by means of 1 000s of demolitions, CERA had razed Christchurch red zone CBD & razed, red zone, residential lands along Avon River from the CBD to the sea. Demolitions of red zone, Port Hills suburbs hadn't happened yet.
In the structurally violent process of CERA red zonings & demolitions, NZ National govt took huge chunks of land in Christchurch red zone CBD & residential red zoned suburbs. CERA minister Brownlee carped & moaned, "deeply offended" by criticism of CERA's secrecy regarding a policy change to look case-by-case at red zone leavers wanting more time to leave:
"I'm deeply offended that people think we are trying to hide something here or that we are being in any way secretive. The information was given to a public meeting where 400 people attended and I released it yesterday. There is not much secret about that." (The Press 25.05.13)
Why all the secrecy behind the NZDF cordon, banning citizens for 2 years from the CBD, while little rebuild happened in the CBD? CERA's farcical insurer advisory service, shadowed by Council's insurer advocacy service, was offensive, when CERA had the power to kick insurers' asses & get them to speed up payouts, repairs & rebuilds. After Brisbane floods, the Australian govt gave insurers a 2 year deadline to settle payouts. Why wasn't NZ National govt doing so?
NZ National govt did nothing about EQCs' & insurers' delays, leaving 1 000s of citizens to battle EQC & insurers over slow repairs or rebuilds, so-called housing "recovery." Never mind slow, post quake repairs to Council housing & state housing in Christchurch.
More "recovery" involved duplication of Christchurch Council bureaucracy with CERA bureaucracy & squabbles over who would pay for NZ National govt's CCDU projects, like loss-maker, 35 000 seater covered stadium & Convention Centre / Te Pae. Never mind squabbles amongst CERA, Heritage hailers & the Anglican church over "recovery" of Christ Church Cathedral ghost.
CERA's SCIRT botched its infrastructure "recovery," underground pipe repairs / replacements & road repairs, by digging up some road bits over & over again, leaving patched & potholed roads far worse than quake damaged, buckled, cracked, liquefactioned, potholed & sinkholed roads. London St & Estuary Rd excavations pertained...
While CERA sucked, MOE sucked too & announced an interim decision that on the Aranui HS site a new super school, Y1-13, would be built to accommodate Jan 2017 closed Aranui, Wainoni & Avondale primary schools & closed Aranui HS. The new super school would open in Jan 2017. Nearby Chisnallwood Intermediate would stay as is, its future reviewed in 2020. (Christchurch Mail 23.05.13). Why didn't MOE make super schools in other Christchurch suburbs?
Coda:
Mon 20.03.14. More sucking: I drove Jake to Sumner. En route we detoured around McCormacks Bay while SCIRT repaired the Causeway. There was another detour along Beachville Rd past Redcliffs, as the ghost above Moa Bone Point Cave was being demolished by CERA. Why did CERA & insurer take over 2 years to demolish that dangerous house above Main Rd, when the yellow adobe house at the bottom of the cliff was demolished soon post 22.02.11 Killer Quake? Then there were scores more ghosts above Redcliffs & Peacocks Gallop awaiting demolitions, while Redcliffs School shared school premises elsewhere, while authorities dithered.
Meanwhile nothing was done about fixing the 500m quake tilted / sunk sea wall, stopping Avon / Heathcote Estuary flooding Beachville Rd. (The sea wall would be fixed by SCIRT, 2015-16).
After Sumner I drove Luke to South New Brighton. SCIRT had torn up Estuary Rd for the 4th time since the 22.02.11 Killer Quake outside South New Brighton School. Why didn't SCIRT just excavate, repair pipes & reseal once? Excavating, repairing & resealing the same bit of road 4x in 2 years was nuts! All over town SCIRT detours around excavations caused traffic congestion for months & would continue to cause congestion while its workers received sinecures.
Early 2015: Christchurch citizens would still lived in caravans & garages, while still battling EQC & insurers. The Press ran articles about post quake caravan & garage dwellers in Christchurch. John Campbell's TV3 John Campbell Live was pulled, as he'd run several TV programmes on Christchurch garage dwellers. So much for NZ National govt's / CERA's recovery.
Sun 14.02.16. Valentines Day, M5.7 quake. Christ Church Cathedral western facade would crumble more, despite the steel, "Battering Ram" buttressing the facade. Heritage hailers vs Anglican diocese restore / rebuild squabbles would continue, while Christ Church Cathedral rotted behind a cordon fence.
Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
See Housing New Zealand (NZ govt, state housing).
See NZ to go without to fund rebuild (The Press / Stuff Co).
See CERA's 23.05.13 media release: Christchurch CBD construction ramps up.
See Stranges building wins supreme award (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Temporary respite for Steve and Sasha Bell after four garage years (The Press / Stuff Co).
See List of tallest buildings in Christchurch (Wikipedia).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Christchurch
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