Red zone news only good for some
The latest zone announcements mean some people can return home.
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Red zone announcements by Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee contradict 126 prohibition notices by Christchurch City Council.
The city council has been criticised for failing to act decisively during the first earthquakes after September 2010.
But in recent months the pendulum has swung wildly the other way, with building closures announced weekly, and tracks and public spaces closed.
Today, Mr Brownlee announced that 1107 Port Hills houses would be rezoned white to green, 285 rezoned white to red and 166 would remain white while further geotechnical assessments were carried out.
This means that 126 property owners who were forced out of their properties by the council issuing section 124 notices will be immediately allowed to return.
Section 124 notices are legal orders to vacate a property due to council-perceived danger.
Many of these property owners have ignored the section 124 notices but most have obeyed them and have been staying elsewhere.
Columnist Joe Bennett was one of a handful who successfully challenged his section 124 notice.
The latest zoning maps show he has been zoned green but two neighbours have been zoned red.
Chris Hutching
Fri, 29 Jun 2012
Fri, 29 Jun 2012
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Red zone news only good for some
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