Recently, public was allowed into CERA's maze when CERA intermittently reduced cordon fencing: opening Restart Cashel Mall; opening temporary bus exchange; bus tours in red zone CBD; 2 brief walkways down Colombo St to see Christ Church Cathedral ghost, lately a dead end niche viewpoint by Colombo St / Gloucester St crossing checkpoint; opening Alice in Videoland; opening Les Mills Gym; brief opening CTV demolition site; various brief openings for celebrities & councillors to gawp, photo ops incl.
Lately CERA speeded up its openings: opening bits of High St, Hereford St, Colombo St near The Crossing by Restart Cashel Mall for shopping & rubbernecking. Last weekend, delayed opening New Regent St, Spanish Mission shops. I didn't go, raining all weekend.
Mon 22.04.13. Reopened New Regent St: little to see, 5 reopened shops, rest closed, awaiting reopening &/or repairs.
Parked on Cambridge Tce by Manchester St Bridge. CERA had opened a cordon niche by PGC demolition site, where 18 people died in 22.02.11 Killer quake. Demolition site was grassed, planter boxes filled with Namaqualand daisies, colouring the cloudy afternoon. Council sign described special significance of the site. Steel mesh fence cordoned red zone ghosts seen, including Ernst & Young, abandoned for over 2 years. (Soon demolished). Riverside House ghost: 2016. Luke would do salvage work there. By Avon River, Retour Restaurant copper dome still lay on the river bank, after the ghost restaurant was demolished. 2020-21. Edmonds Band Rotunda would be restored, copper dome on top.
22.04.13. USAR / TF graffiti, abandoned Riverside House, Manchester St / Cambridge Tce
22.04.13. Manchester St / Cambridge Tce: NO ENTRY. Orange, plastic, road cones, white / orange, plastic bollards, concrete block cordon. Grassed PGC demolition site where 18 people died in the 22.02.11 quake. Abandoned Ernst & Young behind, awaited demolition. Abandoned Riverside House right awaited demolition
22.04.13. Council "special significance" sign for quake death sites, Cambridge Tce
22.04.13. Red zone, abandoned Ernst & Young, awaited demolition, Cambridge Tce
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cambridge Tce view, Retour Restaurant demolition site by Avon River. BNZ Armagh St awaited demolition left, abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel right
22.04.13. Post demolition, Retour Restaurant, copper dome, Cambridge Tce. 2015. The dome was plastic wrapped. 2020-21. Edmonds Band Rotunda would be restored, copper dome roof on top
Manchester St Bridge view: Polluted Avon River. High-rise, BNZ ghost awaited demolition, Armagh St : broken, dusty windows, front & back berms for demolition digger action. Beyond BNZ ghost, Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel awaited repairs. Copthorne Hotel ghost awaited demolition opp Victoria Sq. Split retaining wall tilted over Avon River by Retour Restaurant demolition site. By 2021 wall would be repaired.
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Manchester St Bridge view, red zone, abandoned bldgs: BNZ awaited demolition left, Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel middle awaited repairs. Copthorne Hotel awaited demolition right
22.04.13. Manchester St Bridge view, Avon River, quake split retaining wall. By 2021 the wall would be repaired. Abandoned Copthorne Hotel awaited demolition
Trekked across Manchester St Bridge, past steel mesh fence cordoned Oxford Tce to S side, Armagh St ghost shops: The Flying Burrito Brothers & Costas Souvlaki Bar, upturned chess table behind a shop window, chess pieces scattered on floor since 22.02.11 Killer Quake. Post quakes, Flying Burrito Brothers would become Casa Publica.
22.04.13. DANGER. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Manchester St / Armagh St view, repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel left, abandoned Costas Souvlaki Bar middle
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned Costas Souvlaki Bar left, abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel middle, NZDF wooden checkpoint hut right, Armagh St.
22.04.13. Quake toppled chess table, Costas Souvlaki Bar, Armagh St
22.04.13. Orange, plastic, road cones, orange, plastic bollard, steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned Costas Souvlaki Bar view, Armagh St / Manchester St crossing. Abandoned Luneys left awaited demolition for CERA's Blueprint Margaret Mahy Family Playground
22.04.13. USAR / TF graffiti, abandoned business door, Armagh St
22.04.13. Orange, Hi-Vis vested workmen. Red zone, abandoned, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Armagh St. The Flying Burrito Bros would become Casa Publica
Amagh St, N side: Steel mesh fence cordoned, NZDF wooden checkpoint hut before ghosts: Printshop, Couplands Bakery, Antiques, BNZ awaiting demolition. 2021. Demolitions by Avon River true right bank, from Manchester St to Colombo St incl BNZ, PWC, Copthorne Hotel.
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned businesses awaited demolition, wooden NZDF checkpoint hut, Armagh St / Manchester St
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned businesses awaited demolition, Armagh St
22.04.13. Red zone, abandoned Couplands Bakery awaited demolition, Armagh St
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red zone, abandoned Antiques & BNZ awaited demolition, Armagh St
Armagh St / New Regent St junction: CERA's maze fence dead-end. ROAD CLOSED: Shortest, logical way to reach Victoria Sq from that point was straight along Armagh St, about 150m, a city block. But Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel, awaiting repairs, blocked that way to Victoria Sq for over 2 years.
22.04.13. ROAD CLOSED. Steel mesh fence cordon. New Regent St / Armagh St junction view, red zone, abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel left awaited repairs. Copthorne Hotel right awaited demolition for the new RC Cathedral precinct
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. New Regent St / Armagh St junction view, red zone, abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel awaited repairs
New Regent St: Shops cleaned up, repainted, most closed. Shop parapets still looked dodgy. Since quakes I was chary of parapets, fixed or not, as many parapets collapsed during quakes. Some closed shops had window wares advertising reopening: maps in a closed map shop; lingerie models in a closed lingerie shop; protest signs by a boarded, dirty, closed shop. Clothing designer's materials locked in the closed shop by the landlady, ever since 22.02.11 Killer Quake. Landlady refused to unlock her shop, release material, nor repair her Regent St shops. 2016. After fellow shop-keeper protests & Council cordoning her tatty shops, landlady said she would repair her shops. 2023. Her shops, still unrepaired.
22.04.13. Portaloos. Orange, white, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon. S view, reopened New Regent St. Repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel left
22.04.13. NO ENTRY. Orange / white, plastic bollards, steel mesh fence cordon. W side, reopened New Regent St
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon, white / orange, plastic bollards. E side, reopened New Regent St
22.04.13. N view, reopened New Regent St. BNZ awaited demolition behind for the new RC Cathedral precinct
22.04.13. E side, reopened New Regent St / Gloucester St
22.04.13. New Regent St, W view, repaired Cathedral Junction & Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. New Regent St, W view, Gloucester St. Abandoned Camelot Hotel left awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild. Isaac Theatre Royal restoration right, facade propped by stacked shipping containers
22.04.13. New Regent St SW view, Gloucester St. The Press rebuild left. Abandoned Camelot Hotel beyond, awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild
Jeweller open, couple of cafes open. Two men on a ladder fixed an electric sign by another shop. I wandered into the Fudge shop, $10 ripoff for small plastic punnet of fudge. (Afterwards I drove to Moorhouse Ave, Pak n Save, bought 200g chocolate slab, $1.89 special, for Leah.)
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. W side, reopened New Regent St / Gloucester St
22.04.13. W side, reopened New Regent St
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon, orange / white, plastic bollards. W side, reopened New Regent St / Armagh St junction. BNZ awaited demolition right for the new RC Cathedral precinct
22.04.13. Ubiquitous CERA yellow sticker, New Regent St
Gloucester St: Still a mess, despite being opened by CERA for months. Workmen dug foundations by revamped Isaac Theatre Royal, auditorium still gutted, front facade still propped by 5 layer, stacked containers.
22.04.13. Isaac Theatre Royal restoration, facade propped by stacked shipping containers, Gloucester St. Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel behind awaited repairs
Workmen on scaffolding repaired closed Cathedral Junction. Likewise, workmen repaired closed Novotel. Been at it for months.
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Gloucester St view, Cathedral Sq, red zone, abandoned Camelot Hotel left awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild. Repaired Novotel middle. Repaired Cathedral Junction right.
Gloucester St / Colombo St / Cathedral Sq NZDF checkpoint: Two female soldiers checked CERA passes. Checkpoint cordon fence, threat sign:
EXTREME
DANGER
KEEP
OUT
Cathedral Sq , static: Demolition or rebuild of Christ Church Cathedral, delayed by Heritage hailers' court case. Ghost Government Life awaited demolition.
22.04.13. Gloucester St view, quake ruined, boarded, Christ Church Cathedral, N transept & nave. Repaired Novotel left. Abandoned Heritage Hotel & Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel middle. Abandoned Camelot Hotel right awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild
22.04.13. EXTREME DANGER KEEP OUT. 30 km/h speed limit. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Wooden checkpoint hut. Gloucester St view, Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, ruined Christ Church Cathedral left, chalice sculpture middle, quake survivor
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq NZDF checkpoint view, Isaac Theatre Royal restoration left, repaired Novotel & Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel right
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, abandoned Camelot Hotel left, ruined Christ Church Cathedral middle, abandoned Heritage Hotel & Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel behind
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, Christ Church Cathedral ruin, abandoned Heritage Hotel & Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel behind
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, Government Life awaiting demolition
From Gloucester St, shortest, logical way to Restart Cashel Mall : S through Cathedral Sq past Christ Church Cathedral ghost. From Gloucester St, shortest, logical way to Victoria Sq: N along Colombo St, past Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel. But CERA's maze dawdled along steel mesh fence cordon detours to Restart Cashel Mall & Victoria Sq.
Gloucester St: Behind steel mesh fence cordoned, Camelot Hotel ghost, a parking lot for contractors' vehicles. On painted pavements: green, yellow, blue, white flowers & a green-painted, wiggly line from New Regent St to Restart Cashel Mall for tourists to follow. Green, junk art, 2 giant chairs & a sofa, Gloucester St side, near Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint. So-called artists filled roads & demolition sites with tacky junk. Who paid?
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Red crane. Gloucester St view, red zone, abandoned Craigs House & Victoria Square flats left, awaited demolitions for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae. Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel right awaited repairs
22.04.13. Gloucester St view, green, street art furniture. Abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel awaited repairs
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Gloucester St view, BNZ awaited demolition left. Isaac Theatre Royal restoration right
Gloucester St / Colombo St / Cathedral Sq NZDF checkpoint: Saw N across Farmers demolition site to Armagh St Bridge & distant Court House. Backing Farmers demolition site, fronting Victoria Sq more ghosts: Craigs House, Victoria Square high-rises awaiting demolitions. Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel loomed above the lot. Gloucester St, Chancery Arcade ghost, still weedy, awaited demolition. Central Library ghost awaited demolition. CERA demolitions on the block between Victoria Sq - Cathedral Sq & Colombo St - Oxford Tce would be for NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae.
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Gloucester St view, Farmers demolition site, abandoned Central Library left, abandoned Craigs House & Victoria Square middle, all awaited CERA demolitions for NZ National govts' / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned Chancery Arcade, Gloucester St, awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Abandoned, boarded, Central Library, Gloucester St / Oxford Tce, awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CCDU's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae
Gloucester St Bridge: Oil pollution floated down Avon River by Provincial Council ghosts. CERA's pollution checks were crap. For months post quakes, raw sewage flowed in Avon River, POLLUTION threat signs on river banks. Provincial Council ghost, static, no repairs. 2023. Repairs would begin.
Oxford Tce: CERA opened its maze, allowing pedestrians to walk Avon River bank to Victoria Sq, the long way round.
22.04.13. Quake cracked wing wall, Gloucester St Bridge
22.04.13. Gloucester St Bridge view, closed Provincial Council bldg, oil polluted Avon River
22.04.13. Oil polluted Avon River seen from Gloucester St Bridge
22.04.13. Quake cracked wing wall, Gloucester St Bridge
22.04.13. Oxford Tce view, closed Provincial Council bldg, Avon River
22.04.13. Oxford Tce view, Avon River, Armagh St Bridge. Provincial Council & Court House bldgs left
22.04.13. Oxford Tce view, Avon River, Armagh St Bridge
22.04.13. Oxford Tce view, Armagh St Bridge. Court House bldgs beyond
Oxford Tce: Between Central Library ghost & Craigs House ghost, looking SE, I saw right across Farmers demolition site to Gloucester St & Cathedral Sq ghosts. Armagh St Bridge, cleaned up a bit, still steel mesh fence cordoned, a threat sign:
EXTREME
DANGER
KEEP
OUT
Victoria Sq: Empty, steel mesh fence cordoned, bordered by demolition sites & ghosts.
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Oxford Tce view, Farmers demolition site. Abandoned Craigs House & Victoria Square flats left awaited demolitions for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae. Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel middle awaited repairs
22.04.13. EXTREME DANGER KEEP OUT. Steel mesh fence cordon. Oxford Tce view, Farmers demolition site. Abandoned Victoria Square flats left awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae. Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel left awaited repairs. Isaac Theatre Royal restoration middle. Repaired Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel right
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Oxford Tce view, Farmers demolition site. Abandoned Craigs House left, Central Library right awaited demolitions for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae. Repaired Novotel middle. Abandoned Camelot Hotel middle awaited demolition for Central Library / Turanga rebuild. Abandoned Heritage Hotel & Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel middle
22.04.13. Steel mesh fence cordon. Victoria Sq / Armagh St Bridge view, abandoned Craigs House & Central Library left awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae. Abandoned Rydges Hotel middle, quake survivor
High-rise ghosts: Craigs House, Victoria Square flats, Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel, Copthorne Hotel loomed above autumn Victoria Sq. Craigs House & Victoria Square flats would be demolished by CERA for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae. Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel awaited repairs. Copthorne Hotel, Victoria Sq, awaited demolition. Steel mesh fence cordon, threat sign:
EXTREME
DANGER
KEEP
OUT
22.04.13. EXTREME DANGER KEEP OUT. Steel mesh fence cordon. Victoria Sq view, abandoned Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel left awaited repairs. Victoria Square flats middle, Craigs House right awaited demolitions for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae
22.04.13. Victoria Sq view, abandoned Copthorne Hotel awaited demolition for the new RC Cathedral precinct
Victoria Bridge: I crossed, past Town Hall ghost & the floral clock, past steel mesh fence cordoned, Court House ghost to Pallet Pavilion. Shortest, logical way to Peterborough St Library: cross Kilmore St, then cross old Convention Centre demolition site by Town Hall. But CERA's maze went the long way round via Durham St Nth & Christchurch Casino. Sigh!
22.04.13. Victoria Bridge view, abandoned Christchurch Town Hall. Victoria Bridge & Town Hall would be repaired, 2016
22.04.13. Victoria Bridge view, abandoned Victoria Square flats & Craigs House awaited demolition for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Convention Centre / Te Pae
22.04.13. Victoria Bridge upriver view, Avon River & Armagh St Bridge
Abandoned my library visit, backtracked to my car via Durham St Nth, Gloucester St, New Regent St. En route, I saw Council signs on Durham Street Methodist Church demolition site touting an asphalt, phone-pay, carpark for multi-storey Court House across the road. Never mind insulting families of three people who'd died in 22.02.11 Killer Quake when the greystone church collapsed. 2018-19. A new Durham Street Methodist Church would be built on site.
22.04.13. Fletcher builder sign. Steel mesh fence cordon. Christchurch Court House, Durham St Nth. NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint Justice & Emergency Services Precinct would be built on the Lichfield St / Tuam St demolition block, cc 2016
22.04.13. Council parking lot, Durham Street Methodist Church, demolition site. Court House behind, Durham St Nth. 2018-19. A new Durham Street Methodist Church would be built on site.
22.04.13. Durham Street Methodist Church, demolition site / Council parking lot view, abandoned Spicers, Chester St West / Durham St Nth. Radio NZ demolition site before Spicers. Spicers would be demolished. New lawyers offices would be built on Spicers & Radio NZ demolition sites
Durham St Nth / Chester St West: Opp Court House, I looked at architects' & lawyers' ghost offices. Like so many ghosts in Christchurch, it still had USAR / TF graffiti on windows, more than 2 years post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, big C signifying Clear no bodies. Ghost offices would be demolished, rebuilt as Tavendale and Partners offices.
22.04.13. USAR / TF graffiti, abandoned architects' & lawyers' offices, Durham St Nth. The offices would be demolished & rebuilt as Tavendale and Partners
Durham St Nth back to Avon River: Bldgs in CERA's maze were ghosts, including Provincial Council ghost, awaiting restoration & ghost hotels like Rydges Hotel, Oxford Tce, awaiting restoration. Some ghost hotels were currently being restored, like Rendezvous Hotel / Pacific Tower, Gloucester St.
22.04.13. Durham St Nth / Armagh St crossing view, red zone bldgs: Abandoned Provincial Council & Rydges Hotel, awaiting restoration, beyond
22.04.13. Durham St Nth / Armagh St crossing view, red zone bldgs, at various stages of abandonment, demolition, restoration, or repair
Armagh St: Saw a ghost being demolished by a yellow digger near RSA bldg, digger chomping concrete chunks. Two months hence, in June, CERA would open its maze, 28 months after CERA's CBD occupation. Behind steel mesh fence cordons, there would still be many more red zone, CBD demolitions to go, especially in CERA's E Frame & S Frame.
2016. Armagh St, Durham St Nth, Gloucester St block: Awly Building would be opened, concrete, glass-fronted, multi-storey office block, opp Provincial Council ghost, still awaiting restoration.
*Trekked Manchester St, Armagh St, New Regent St, Gloucester St, Oxford Tce, Victoria Sq, Durham St Nth. 115 images,
CERA's Greater Christchurch Recovery Update, Issue 21 May 2013, reported CCDU's purchase of CBD land for anchor projects:
"The Crown is seeking to purchase 350 properties in total.
In brief (as at 19 April 2013), the Crown now has:
*31% of the land designated for all the anchor projects combined
*56% of the land needed for the Convention Centre Precinct
*51% of the land needed for the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct
*35.6% of the land needed for the East Frame."
No wonder NZ National govt / CERA wanted to milk NZ taxpayers for another $10 billion. Although CERA touted its CCDU Blueprint in June 2012, nearly a year before, given CERA's sluggish CBD purchases, it would be years before all CERA's CBD Blueprint precincts were completed.
22.04.13. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Yellow digger demolition near RSA bldg, Armagh St
While citizens still existed in broken homes in broken suburbs, EQC & insurers dithered over repairs or rebuilds & CERA minister Brownlee had a week's break at Maggie Thatcher's funeral.
Brownlee dithered for months over an insurer advocacy service, requested by Council, but concocted an advisory service. Council vouched for an advocacy service instead of Brownlee's insurer funded advisory service: fox in charge of the hen house. Brownlee & NZ National govt failed to ensure householders were protected from slow insurers. Never mind AMI / Southern Response debacle where Southern Response would ripoff claimants.
CERA's Greater Christchurch Recovery Update, Issue 21 May 2013, also reported Crown owned Southern Response insurer's projected repairs & rebuild schedule:
"DATE. PROJECTED TOTAL REBUILD / REPAIRS
May 2013 339
June 2013 363
July 2013 436
Aug 2013 473
Sep 2013 554
Oct 2013 578
Nov 2013 659
Dec 2013 771
Jan 2014 836
Feb 2014 928
Mar 2014 999
Apr 2014 1040
May 2014 1139
Jun 2014 1299
Jul 2014 1363
Aug 2014 1418
Sep 2014 1505
Oct 2014 1553
Nov 2014 1631
Dec 2014 1730
2015 end 2801
2016 end 3608"
Thus CERA recovery minister Brownlee, PM Key & minions expected some householders to wait more than 5 years post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, before Crown insurer, Southern Response would do repairs or rebuild!
Antagonism between Council & CERA: Brownlee called mayor Parker a clown. CERA put a Crown observer into Council for a couple of months to sort out Council dysfunction & miscommunications, after Parker's plea for help in controlling stroppy councillors. CERA tried forcing Council to sell Council assets to pay for NZ National govt's / CERA's Blueprint anchor projects in the CBD.
Council awaited NZ National govt's / CERA's costings for its expensive anchor projects, like 35 000 seater covered rugby stadium, convention centre, sports facility, performing arts precinct... While CERA & Council squabbled, citizens suffered trashed roads, broken housing.
Although April was when EQC Truths blogger published the EQC leak in which 83 000+ claimants' details were revealed, neither Brownlee, Sutton, nor CERA mentioned the leak in CERA's May 2013, Greater Christchurch Recovery Update.
Sun 28.04.13. TV One News reported on National's conference at Hanmer Springs, Key & Brownlee inflating their Christchurch rebuild guesstimate from $30 billion to $40 billion. Of course it would cost NZ taxpayers more than previous guesstimates, as NZ National govt's / CERA's anchor projects, demolitions & takings in Christchurch CBD's E & S Frames were very expensive.
NZ National govt was spending billions of taxpayers' dollars buying, demolishing, investing in Christchurch's Zombie CBD. Meanwhile Brownlee couldn't even organize a proper advocacy service for homeowners battling insurers. Recovery?
While NZ National govt boasted about big spending for Christchurch rebuild, evidence on Christchurch streets was contrary: Monstrous mess, more than 2 years post 22.02.11 Killer Quake, with SCIRT detours & orange, plastic, road cones all over. Christchurch would be Cone City for years. My entertainment during quake years: observe SCIRT teams "working" whenever I drove past. Most workmen stood around chatting, holding spades or brooms, or sitting doing nothing, while just a machine operator worked.
Rossall St example: 4 workmen, 2 sitting on a pavement doing nothing, one feeding a yellow cable into a manhole in the middle of the road, protected by orange, plastic, road cones, traffic slowed & detoured, a fat boss standing over him doing nothing. Half an hour later when I drove past again, same scenario: same workman feeding the cable into the manhole, boss doing stand over, 2 "workmen" still seated.
Meanwhile access to Leah's London St school was difficult for months, steel mesh fence cordons blocking London St, while SCIRT diggings on Stanmore Rd progressed, causing one lane detours by New World supermarket & beyond. With similar detours & narrowings of nearby Bealey Ave, Leah had to find new ways of driving to school through SCIRT's detours maze.
Pity NZ National party didn't face taxpayers in suburbs like New Brighton, where they'd see their governing mess: red zone ghosts; demolition wastelands; slum living conditions including tagging; intermittent flooding by Avon River, causing patched roads like New Brighton Rd & Owles Tce, near Pages Rd Bridge, becoming impassable during flooding; interminable SCIRT excavations on Estuary Rd & Rookwood Ave / Bowhill Rd traffic circle... Cantabrians were forced to live in ruined suburbs, in muddy, broken housing, awaiting repairs, broken roads, awaiting repairs, third post quake winter looming.
Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
See Insurance advocacy service approved (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Speculation on Heritage tower demolition (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Stop the lollipop makeovers (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Parker keen to explain service to Brownlee (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Road works deter customers from citys businesses (The Press / Stuff Co).
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