PUBLIC INFORMATION UPDATE: 7:30pm Tuesday 8 March 2011

Temporary road closure

• Park Terrace between Armagh Street and Bealey Avenue has been closed until further notice.

Controlled Access for businesses to Red Zone CBD

• For businesses to be permitted controlled and escorted access into the Red Zone in the CBD they must register on the www.recovercanterbury.co.nz website.

• After business owners register they will be contacted to confirm whether or not they are allowed access to their premises in the Red Zone.

• There is no access to any buildings with a red placard as these are unsafe and the Red Zone in general is very unsafe.

• There is strict criteria around access into the Red Zone for businesses and each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis using the following criteria:

1. Government departments for document and/or security issues.

2. Medical or dental records/databases to support disaster victim identification process.

3. Supporting emergency services or Christchurch earthquake response functions.

4. Court files for legal proceedings.

5. Assisting critical infrastructure operations.

• Business owners that fulfil this criteria will be allowed controlled and escorted access to their buildings until otherwise notified.

• From Monday 14th March access to the Red Zone for other businesses and property owners that fall outside the criteria will be achieved by opening the Red Zone grid by grid. More information to follow.

• There are a significant number of green or yellow placards within the Red Zone.

• Within the Red Zone controlled demolition is occurring at a number of sites. The heavy machinery being used is causing vibrations which, along with the frequent aftershocks, could affect other buildings.

• The primary focus remains on Public Safety.

• Business owners will not be allowed access to their yellow or green placarded building if the route is threatened by a red placarded building.

• To allow business owners access to their green or yellow placarded buildings as soon as possible a priority list of buildings to be demolished or isolated is being prepared.

• There is also an overarching plan being developed to reduce existing cordon zones.

• We understand that businesses want to retrieve key items and we appreciate the patience and understanding of business owners because our main priority remains public safety.

Conserve water

• All Christchurch residents should limit water use to ensure there is enough to go around.

• People should not water gardens and should turn off home irrigation systems.

• 84% of water supplies have been restored.

Bus services

• Limited bus services are running between 7am and 7pm and will be free until the end of next week.

• Additional bus services will start this Friday servicing New Brighton, Ferrymead, Cashmere, Lyttelton and Christchurch Airport.

• More information will be posted on metroinfo.co.nz and facebook.com/ChristchurchMetroInfo .

Rock falls

• Residents should call the Council on 941-8999 if they are concerned about rockfalls or landslides on or near their property.

If the situation is dangerous or life-threatening they should call 111.

Welfare Centres

• 83 people are at the Pioneer welfare centre.

• Two new recovery assistance centres will open on Wednesday 9 March

o Mt Pleasant Yacht Club 41 Main Rd Mt Pleasant (just over Ferrymead Bridge).

o Old Boys’ Collegian Cricket Pavilion, Hagley Oval , South Hagley Park

Chemical toilet operation

• People should avoid putting chemical toilet waste, or any liquid waste, bagged or not, into their red or any other bin.

• Only solid waste can go into your red bin, and should be tightly wrapped in plastic.

• Chemical toilets – there are disposal tanks distributed around the city.

Timber-framed toilets with buckets

• Residents using timber-framed toilets which have buckets are asked to add absorbent material such as kitty litter, sawdust or similar material to the bucket before wrapping and disposing of the material in their red wheelie bins.

• Adding absorbent material to human waste collected in the toilets is the correct and most sanitary way to dispose way of waste material as no liquids can be put in the red bin.

• The addition of absorbent material to chemical toilets is not applicable. The contents of chemical toilets can be disposed of at collection points around the city.

Linwood Service Centre

• Linwood Service Centre -180 Smith Street will be open for normal business from 11am Wednesday 9 March.

Tree root disturbance

• Due to tree root plate disturbance caused by the 22 February earthquake several trees across the city have been assessed and will need to be removed.

o Hagley Park (along Park Terrace side from Worcester Street Bridge through to Salisbury Street – 30 trees

o Christchurch Botanic Gardens – 15 trees

o South Brighton Domain – 100 trees

o Avon River Bank – 40 trees

Demolition materials and debris from CBD properties

• Insurance companies and demolition contractors reminded that all demolition material and debris must be stockpiled on site. Roads are to be kept clear of demolition material and debris.

Rubbish collection

• A special rubbish collection is to be carried out in Zones 1,2,3 &4 of CBD on Friday 11th March to collect perishable rubbish which residents may have discovered on returning to their houses. Only red and green bins will be collected. Normal collections will continue next week.

ENDS

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