Misgivings magnified during the 23 December 2011 Xmas Quake Swarm, after Marryatt was given a 14% pay-rise of $68 000 by Parker's Council, shunting Marryatt's salary to $540 000 p.a, more than US president's, NZ PM's, Aussie PM's, UK PM's salaries. That travesty irked ratepayers, with Marryatt's job performance appraisal's evaluations by Council staff actually lessening with lower scores. Never mind Marryatt's $68 000 increase was way above what most citizens earned p.a. Much more than what breadwinner Leah earned p.a, a qualified teacher with many years' experience in three countries. She still waited for Parker's & Marryatt's Council to fix London St by her school nearly a year post 22 February 2011 Quake.
Marryatt accepted the salary increase, but weeks later turned it down after public-protest in the media, with the gagging proviso that councillors work collegially, as councillor-leaks had appeared in the media. Marryatt said he was committed to Christchurch. He'd worked in Christchurch since his appointment in 2007, but during weekends he flew home to Hamilton, North Island, where his wife resided. (Marryatt also owned a Christchurch house).
While that Council debacle went on, citizens lived in Third World squalor in damaged riverside suburbs & damaged hill suburbs. Added to the toxic mix were post-quake bureaucracies, EQC, CERA, Fletcher Construction, Tonkin & Taylor geotech engineers, which quake-victims had to deal with regarding property inspections, insurance payouts & rebuilds.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry also showed a toxic brew of buck-passing amongst building-owners, engineer building-inspectors & Council building-inspectors. No one took responsibility for mistakes in red-stickering, or green-stickering, or yellow-stickering of buildings, nor reliable & valid inspections & public safety-procedures. Result: Deaths in the 22 February 2011 Quake, long after Council, engineers & building-owners had timeous warnings from the 4 September 2010 Quake & the 26 December 2010 Quake.
01.02.12. The Star headline: "Did these people need to die?" The Star quoted mayor Parker:
"If incompetencies or incorrect actions are highlighted by the Royal Commission then we will stand up and say we made mistakes and these are obviously areas which need to be fixed. But until we've heard all sides of the story, and the context in which decisions were made, we can't do that. It's such an important process - not so much to place blame but to improve for the future. We need to get it right"
Nearly a year post 22 February 2011 Quake, the red-zone CBD was still cordon-closed, presided over by CERA boss Sutton, his slow demolishers & NZDF-soldiers at variable cordon-checkpoints. A few days before, CERA had begun demolitions of ruined-houses at Seabreeze Cl, Bexley, only 17 months post 4 September 2010 Quake. Public was still banned from the CBD, threatened with arrest by cordon-soldiers & cordon-cops. Citizens' pastime: Staring through cordon-fences at the closed CBD.
17 months post 4 September 2010 Quake, citizens were angry, as EQC-payouts & insurer-payouts, repairs & rebuilds were slow & citizens couldn't get on with their lives. We'd endured 10 000 quakes, including 5 XL, life-threatening quakes.
Hereford St / Montreal St: On St Elmo Courts demolition-site, the protest was well organized below the new multi-storey Council building. Cops cordoned off bits of Hereford St, Montreal St, Worcester St & Cashel St for protesters to avoid traffic. In a corner by The Coffee House & Council building's west wall, a stage was erected for speakers: Peter Lynch, The Wizard, Rev Mike Coleman (MC), others.
01.02.12. Protestor en route to protest, Art Gallery, Montreal St, former red zone. Glassy Council bldg behind
About 4 000 protesters were there, waving placards, voluble, attentive to speakers: Bye Bye Marryatt & Parker.
01.02.12. Protesters by the coffee house & Council bldg, Montreal St / Hereford St, former red zone
Council workers peeped from windows above. The Council building was newly opened just before the 4 September 2010 Quake which damaged the new building. It was also damaged in the 22 February 2011 Quake & closed for months for repairs. Thus the Art Gallery across Worcester Blvd, also damaged, was used as a Civil Defence HQ, during States-of-Emergencies after those quakes. The Art Gallery was later closed for repairs & would be reopened in December 2015.
01.02.12. Protesters & St John ambulance by Council bldg. Central Police bldg right, Montreal St / Hereford St, former red zone. Central Police would be imploded 31.05.15
Cops in nearby Central Police multi-storey peered from windows too. Cops & security-personnel mingled, keeping an eye & attending to dizzy old folk, like an old lady & a faint old man. St John ambulance was called.
01.02.12. Central Police bldg, Hereford St / Cambridge Tce, former red zone. Central Police would be imploded 31.05.15
Mid week, a working day, there were no school kids, nor workers, except those who took time off work, or lunch break. Otherwise, full public spectrum: small kids, old folks, middle-aged, young people, dogs, cyclists, casually dressed, suits.
As protesters were congested near the speakers' stage near the Council building, I wandered crowd edges. There were other photographers. TV news vans & equipment: One News, TV3 & radio-personnel ambled about with fancy equipment. We were national news that sunny afternoon. TV news & Close up would feature the protest in evening news programmes. I snapped protest-placards in the crowd occupying St Elmo Courts demolition-site & spilling onto Hereford St by Central Police carpark & Montreal St. Protest-placards:
NO CONFIDENCE
IN
BOB PARKER
01.02.12. Protesters, Montreal St / Hereford, former red zone
THE ROT
IS AT THE
TOP BOB
COULDN'T
AFFORD A
POLITICIAN
SO I MADE
THIS SIGN
NO MORE
APATHY!
CRAFTY
COSTLY
COWBOYS
THE MAGGOTS
ARE SUCKING THE
LIFE BLOOD OUT
OF THE CITY
FORGET THE
BUSKERS, BOB'S
THE REAL
CLOWN
END
CORPORATE
GREED
01.02.12. News crew amongst protesters, Montreal St / Hereford St, former red zone
01.02.12. Protesters by Council bldg, Hereford St, former red zone
END ALL
COUNCIL
CORPORATE
BULLSHIT!
NO
BUILDING
FULL
RATES
CEO & MAYOR
STEAL COMMUNITY
SAFETY AMENITIES
GOODBYE
BOB!
THIS
IS
OUR LIFE
BOB PARKER
OUR CITY
OUR CHOICE
MARRYATT OUT
CREEPS:
PARKER,
BUTTON, WELLS,
KEOWN, GOUGH,
CORBETT, REID
01.02.12. Protesters, Montreal St, former red zone
BULLSH*T BOB
OUT!
TRAGIC TONY
GIVE CHCH
A FAIR
SHAKE!
NO
MORE
LIES
01.02.12. Cop, protesters, Montreal St, former red zone
SACK MARRYATT
SACK PARKER
DEMAND A FRESH
MID-TERM ELECTION!
01.02.12. Protesters, Hereford St / Montreal St, former red zone
SIDESHOW BOB'S
TEAM MUST GO!
14% PAY RISE
THAT SOUNDS
FAIR
YEAH RIGHT!
14% PAY RISE
FAT CATS
RULE
HEY TONY!
COME PLAY GOLF!
BOB & COUNCIL
WONT KNOW
TEE HE HE!
BY ORDER. HIGHER GOLFERS
COMMISSION
NO MORE
BACK ROOM
BOB 'N TONY SHOW
01.02.12. Protesters, Hereford St, former red zone
GOODBYE
TONY!
SIDE SHOW
BOB
YOUR OUT
LEAVE NOW
NO MORE BULLSHIT
MARRYATT
HEAD
NORTH
AND STAY THERE
NO PARKING (-ING crossed out, replaced with -ER)
PARKER
BOB
WE NEED A
BUILDER
FRESH
ELECTIONS
NOW
CHCH
CITY COUNCIL
NOTHING TO HIDE
NOTHING TO FEAR
COUNCIL
DETECTIVES
SNOOP ON
QUAKE VICTIMS
NOT YOUR
CITY!
BOB PARKER
SO FULL OF
SPIN
HE'S NOT IN
TOUCH WITH
PEOPLE
ELECTIONS
NOT
COMMISSIONERS
01.02.12. Protesters, Hereford St / Montreal St, former red zone
SUSAN [Wells]
SELLS US
OUT
REMOVE PARKER'S
PIMPS NOW
BOB &
TONY
MUST GO
TRUTH
COSTS
NOTHING
MARRYATT
A SYMBOL
OF
WIDER GREED
01.02 12. Protesters, Montreal St / Hereford St, former red zone
PARKER
MARRYATT
MUST
GO!
REQUIRE A
CHANGE:-
"CLERK"
"SIDESHOW"
ASSAD:-
OUT
WE WANT
OPENNESS
HONESTY
ACCOUNTABILITY
NZ
BUILT BY WORKING
PEOPLE!
DESTROYED BY
SUITS
TIRED OF BEING
TREATED LIKE A
MUSHROOM
KEPT IN THE DARK AND
FED BULLSH-T!
STOP NOW MARRYATT!
AND SAVE YOURSELF
FROM ETERNAL SHAME!
GOD IS WATCHING YOU
JESUS IS THE KEY! YES!
THE WAY AND THE LIGHT
REPENT!!! FOR SALVATION
9000 PW
COS I'M WORTH IT
WE DIDN'T THINK SO
REMOVE THE CROCODILES
THE POND IS TOO SMALL
BYE
BYE
BOB
THIS IS YOUR STORY
BOB
NEW ELECTION
SACK PARKER
AND HIS
MARRYATT MAN
DCM
PARKER
MARRYATT
BUTTON
WELL DESERVED
BLATANT AUTOCRACY OUT
DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANCY IN
RATE (crossed out)
RAPED
PAYERS
TRICKLE DOWN
ECONOMICS =
YOUR'E IN
YOU'RE OUT
URINE
ROLL BACK INEQUALITY
PUPPETEER TONY
SHOULD LEAVE TOWN
WITH THE BUSKERS...
AND TAKE SIDE
SHOW CLOWN BOB
WITH HIM
IS THE EAST
STILL PART
OF CHCH?
CRONYISM IS NOT A
PUBLIC SERVICE
OUR CITY
OUR CHOICE
BOB
AND
TONY
SHOW
MUST
GO
AUTUMN
ELECTIONS
RECLAIM CH-CH
SACK
MARRYATT
01.02.12. Protest crowd dispersal, Montreal St / Hereford St, former red zone
COME ON
BOB
SACK MARRYATT
Near the end of the two hour protest a southerly ruffled speakers' papers, protesters' hair & clothes & swirled demolition-dust. After the protest the crowd dispersed, while a group stood talking by the stage. Some protesters left their placards under demolition-stones, or on fences.
01.02.12. Protest placard left at protest site, Montreal St / Hereford St, former red zone
I trekked back to my car via Durham St Nth, following red-zone CBD steel-mesh-fence-cordons & snapping ruins & demolitions. Montreal St Art Gallery was closed for repairs. A multi-storey behind the Art Gallery in Gloucester St was being demolished.
AUTUMN
ELECTIONS
OUR CITY OUR DECISION
01.02.12. Protester leaving protest, Montreal St / Worcester Blvd, by the Art Gallery, former red zone
01.02.12. Demolition site behind Art gallery, Gloucester St, former red zone
Gloucester St: Red-zone Brannigans ruin was being demolished opposite red-zone Central Library ruin.
01.02.12. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Brannigans demolition, Gloucester St / Oxford Tce, red zone
Gloucester St / Durham St Nth: Red zone. CONTRACTOR ACCESS ONLY sign. Steel-mesh-fence-ordoned Provincial Council ruin was covered in yellow / blue tarps & was propped by three stacked shipping-containers.
01.02.12. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Yellow / blue tarp. Feb 22 quake trashed, Provincial Council bldg, Gloucester St / Durham St Nth, red zone
Durham St Nth / Chester St West: The Methodist Church demolition-site was steel-mesh-fence-cordoned. Three people died there in the 22 February 2011 Quake. The Methodist Church would be rebuilt modern style in 2018-19.
01.02.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Methodist Church demolition site, Durham St Nth / Chester St West, former red zone. Methodist Church would be rebuilt 2018-19
Chester St West / Durham St Nth: Every time I trekked past Radio NZ House ruin, an X crack at one corner was bigger than the last time I'd passed. Quakes shook that liquefactioned building to bits, an example of CERA minister Brownlee's "damage on damage." Radio NZ House would be demolished for new lawyers' offices, Tavendale and Partners.
Chester St West: Some demolition-sites.
01.02.12. Yellow digger, rubble truck, Hi-Vis vested workman. Quake demolition site, Chester St West, former red zone
01.02.12. House demolition site, Chester St West / Cranmer Sq, former red zone
Kilmore St / Montreal St, Boarded, cordoned Cranmer Court ruin. Cranmer Court would be demolished after protests in October 2012. Cranmer Terraces would be built on site in 2023.
01.02.12. CROSSING CLOSED sign. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Serial quake damaged, Cranmer Court, Kilmore St / Montreal St, former red zone. Cranmer Court would be demolished after protests, Oct 2012. New Cranmer Terraces would be built on site, 2023.
Montreal St / Peterborough St, The Peterborough, damaged, steel-mesh-fence-cordoned, would survive the quakes.
01.02.12. Serial quake damaged, The Peterborough, Montreal St / Peterborough St, former red zone. The Peterborough would survive the quakes
Montreal St / Victoria St / Salisbury St crossing: Jubilee Clock Tower, damaged, steel-mesh-fence-cordoned in front of steel-mesh- fence-cordoned Victoria Mansions ruin & demolition-sites. Jubilee Clock Tower & Victoria Mansions would survive the quakes. Jubilee Clock Tower would be repaired, but Victoria Mansions would be abandoned for years. 2022. Still abandoned a decade later.
01.02.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Montreal St view, serial quake damaged, Jubilee Clock Tower, former red zone. After repairs, Jubilee Clock Tower would survive the quakes
01.02.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Serial quake damaged, Victoria Mansions, Jubilee Clock Tower, The Peterborough, Salisbury St / Victoria St / Montreal St crossing, former red zone. All 3 bldgs would survive the quakes
01.02.12. Quake demolition sites: white bldgs, Caxton Press, part demolished, seen from Montreal St / Salisbury St / Victoria St crossing, former red zone
Salisbury St: Couple of ghosts, former red zone. Weedy demolition sites.
01.02.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Serial quake damaged bldg, Salisbury St, former red zone
Victoria St / Kilmore St: Red zone, Crowne Plaza Hotel, demolition in progress.
01.02.12. Durham St Nth view, Crowne Plaza Hotel, early demolition in red zone
Durham St Nth near Bealey Ave: NO UNAUTHORISED ENTRY: Demolition sites, ruined-houses, a boarded-synagogue. The Synagogue would be repaired.
01.02.12. House demolition site, Durham St Nth, former red zone
01.02.12. Serial quake damaged housing, Durham St Nth, former red zone
01.02.12. House demolition site, Durham St Nth, former red zone
01.02.12. NO UNAUTHORISED ENTRY sign. Steel mesh fence cordon. Porta-cabins on demolition site, Durham St Nth, former red zone
01.02.12. Epoxy glue repairs to quake cracked, concrete walls, Durham St Nth, former red zone
01.02.12. House demolition site, Durham St Nth, former red zone
01.02.12. Serial quake damaged, boarded synagogue, Durham St Nth, former red zone. The synagogue would be repaired
01.02.12. Serial quake damaged house, Durham St Nth, former red zone
01.02.12. House demolition site, Durham St Nth, former red zone
Zimbabwe cricketers currently toured NZ playing Blackcaps internationals. As Kiwis were great protesters, often boasting about protesting the 1981 Springbok Rugby Tour, why were Kiwi protesters so quiet about Zimbabwe dictator Mugabe's cricketers touring NZ?
03.02.12. More than a month post 23 December 2011 Xmas Quake Swarm, TV announced that multi-storey Terrace on the Park apartments, Park Tce / Salisbury St, was dangerous, ready to collapse. The next-door house was red-stickered, owners had to evacuate.
CERA minister Brownlee warned that "damage on damage" was happening to buildings in quakes & owners & inspectors must re-inspect buildings post 23 December 2011 Xmas Quake Swarm. A tardy warning, as anyone enduring Christchurch quakes saw that ages ago! (Weekend Press, 4-5 Feb, 2012).
Did Council & CERA really know what they were doing regarding dangerous buildings? I'd driven past Terrace on the Park many times since quakes began & like dangerous blocks of evacuated apartments on nearby Carlton Mill Rd, it was steel-mesh-fence-cordoned, left to rot, waiting for more ruination. Traffic rumbled by daily & diagonal cracked-crosses, X X X... on concrete wall-panels were there for passersby to see.
Post 26 December 2010 Quake, I recalled seeing cracked-crosses on brick-facades on damaged-buildings, like in Cashel Mall & St Elmo Courts, yet authorities had allowed pedestrians & traffic to pass for months. Deaths resulted in Cashel Mall during the 22 February 2011 Quake & elsewhere in the CBD!
Mayor Parker went on another overseas junket paid by ratepayers. Parker flew away from Council problems with CERA, as CERA bureaucrats were usurping Council functions, Parker & Marryatt acquiescing. Yet Parker & some councillors condoned Marryatt's pay-rise, Marryatt doing less work, many of his functions usurped by CERA!
*Trekked Montreal St, Hereford St, Worcester Blvd, Gloucester St, Durham St Nth, Chester St West, Salisbury St. 263 snaps.
Coda:
2015. Hereford St: A multi-storey office-block would be built on St Elmo Courts demolition-site, the scene of public-protests. The office-block would have the latest base-isolators enabling the building to move about 40cm in any direction during future quakes. Across Hereford St, multi-storey Central Police would be imploded on 31.05.15.
Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
See Call to fire CEO, hold election (The Press / Stuff Co).
See '1 per cent' chance of mag 7.0 quake (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Star system to rate quake safety of bldgs (The Press / Stuff Co).
See St Elmo Courts / Offices rebuild (Architecture Now).
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome to your spin anon XD, but there are many in Chch qualified for the mayor's job, with integrity too. Broken ribs so what?
ReplyDeleteReceived an email from protest facilitator Peter Lynch, asking permission to link my blog to the Cantabrians Unite website. Agreed.
ReplyDelete