Christchurch sub-divisions missing liquefaction reports
A Royal Commission report says few planned Christchurch sub-divisions have liquefaction reports.
Only a handful of proposed sub-divisions around Christchurch have in-depth seismic reports.
Several sub-divisions have been given the go ahead under a regional rezoning process called Plan Change 1 that has been fast-tracked by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.
A report commissioned by the Royal Commission into the Canterbury earthquakes reveals that few historical (circa pre-2007) sub-division consents contained reports about liquefaction risk.
The report is available on the city council’s web site under the latest meetings agenda.
Equally significant, only a handful of seismic reports have been conducted for the latest post-quake sub-divisions fast-tracked under Plan Change 1.
Ngai Tahu’s Prestons sub division is one of the few to have a recent seismic report, which reported little liquefaction.
The council report does not state how the situation will addressed, although presumably the seismic health of sites will be probed when more specific sub-division and building consents are sought.
However at least one of the rezoning decisions (Canterbury Golf’s at Spencerville) may require revisiting because it is sited close to a river and on swampy land.
Earlier engineering advice on some previously ratified sub divisions largely dismissed the liquefaction risk.
Chris Hutching
Tue, 07 Feb 2012
Tue, 07 Feb 2012
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Christchurch sub-divisions missing liquefaction reports
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