Too soon to say if Monday quakes will increase rebuild costs - English
Yesterday's earthquakes in Christchurch won't hold up rebuilding the city, Finance Minister Bill English told Parliament today.
Yesterday's earthquakes in Christchurch won't hold up rebuilding the city, Finance Minister Bill English told Parliament today.
"While there may be some hold-ups in the next week or two as the damage is reassessed, the fact is that what is required to rebuild Christchurch hasn't changed," he said.
"The demolition and rebuilding of the CBD and significant decisions about land use in the suburbs as well as repairs to thousands of houses -- much of that effort and the planning that goes with it can continue regardless of the earthquakes yesterday."
Mr English said it was too soon to say whether the Government's rebuilding costs would increase.
"That's not entirely clear yet, the picture seems to be that there has been more damage in the CBD where extensive demolition was already occurring and pretty severe liquefaction in the eastern suburbs where there is already significant damage," he said.
"We will pretty quickly have an assessment as to whether there are significant more costs."
NZPA
Tue, 14 Jun 2011
Tue, 14 Jun 2011
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Too soon to say if Monday quakes will increase rebuild costs - English
15220