Media Release

1 December 2010

Latest Tonkin & Taylor report indicates very limited land damage in Selwyn District urban areas

No properties in Selwyn District urban areas have suffered severe or major land damage as a result of the Canterbury Earthquake, according to the Tonkin & Taylor geotechnical report released today.

Tonkin & Taylor have mapped 22,500 properties in the urban areas of Canterbury impacted by the earthquake and categorised these properties into three zones. This detailed mapping included Lincoln and Tai Tapu.

The mapping of Lincoln has indicated that there is no land damage within this area, with all properties falling within Zone A. In Tai Tapu there are a number of properties that have some land damage and these properties have been categorised as Zone B.

The Tonkin & Taylor report indicates that the land on these Zone B properties is likely to have returned to its pre-earthquake strength by now and that any minor land remediation that is needed can be managed as part of a repair or rebuilding process.

“This means that all Selwyn residents living in urban areas who have suffered damage to their properties from the earthquake will be able to begin the process of repairing or rebuilding their homes sooner rather than later,” says Kelvin Coe, Mayor of Selwyn District.

It should be noted that the Tonkin & Taylor report does not address the rural parts of Selwyn District where there is suspected land damage.

“We are still working with geotechnical specialists to evaluate land in more rural parts of the district in order to produce guidelines for necessary geotechnical investigation and building foundation design,” says Mayor Coe.

Selwyn District Council and the Earthquake Commission (EQC) also know that there are large numbers of properties within the district – in urban and rural areas – that have suffered shaking damage from the earthquake and fall outside of the areas mapped in the report.

All Selwyn residents that have made EQC claims – whether Zone B, Zone A, or unmapped – should receive a letter from EQC in the next few days explaining the EQC process for assessing their property and beginning repairs or rebuilding.

“If you believe you have made a claim and do not receive a letter in the next few days, it could be because some key information is missing or your address is incorrect on your claim. If this is the case, please call EQC immediately,” says Mayor Coe.

“I recognise that some Selwyn residents are feeling frustrated or uncertain about the EQC process. I hope that the letter you receive from EQC helps reassure you that your property will be assessed and repaired as soon as possible.”

ENDS

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