DCC building staff to assist with quake response

Dunedin (Thursday, 17 November 2016) – Four Dunedin City Council staff members are heading to the Hurunui District today to assist with the response and recovery from Monday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake near Hanmer Springs.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says the DCC has responded to a request for assistance from its northern colleagues by sending two building inspectors and two building consent processors to help assess damaged buildings.

"Our thoughts have very much been with those communities impacted by the earthquake and ongoing aftershocks and this is the very least that we can do as a Council to help," says Mr Cull.

He says that if Dunedin people want to help those affected by the earthquake the best way to do so is to donate money to relief funds set up, including the Red Cross Appeal.

People are being asked not to donate goods to the affected regions at this stage. Civil defence emergency management groups are getting essential supplies to those who need them the most.

General Manager Community Services Simon Pickford says that at this stage the four DCC staff members are expected to remain in Hurunui for a week.

The timeframe may be extended if required. If this happened, there could be some impact on consent processing times for DCC customers.

"However, there is clearly an urgent need for the earthquake-affected areas and if Dunedin ever found itself in a similar situation we would certainly require and appreciate the help from outside the city," says Mr Pickford.

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