Community Update 16 May 2013
Main Road Masterplan Mt Pleasant – Sumner Consultation
Master planning for the Main Road corridor between Ferrymead Bridge and Marriner Street, Sumner is about to start. Workshop dates are Tuesday 28 May 2013 from 7pm–9pm; and/or Tuesday 4 June 2013 from 7pm–9pm Redcliffs Bowling Club, 9 James Street. For further info click here
Interested in being part of a Men’s shed?
The Ferrymead Tramway is looking to establish a Menzshed and seeking expressions of interest from locals. Call Allen Harbrow on 3855519 or stop by at the trolley bus shed, Truscotts Rd Gate A any Wednesday.
Activity Guide for Older Adults – Hagley Ferrymead
Short of things to do? Have you checked out this handy guide – soon to be updated.
Tenancy/landlord issues
If you have any tenancy/landlord issues you would like to sort come along to this meeting regardless of whether you are a tenant or landlord. Registration is essential – coordinator @mpcc.org.nz
Insurance info assorted
Residential Insurance Advisory Service begins
If you need help with your insurance claim please contact the governments new Residential Advisory Service
EQC and Winter Wellness
Fletcher/EQC have plans to escalate urgent work, eg for those who have chronic health conditions, or the elderly. See here for details
From CanCern
Community Questions and Issues – this will be really helpful on-going!
The updates found here on the CERA website will show you that 14 community questions have now been processed and are at different stages in terms of being answered by the various agencies involved. The online form to submit questions, the processing of information using a community group called the Think Tank and the collation of answers from the agencies by CERA has been the result of a 3 month trial which finished recently.
All in all this has been a very successful creative collaboration between CERA and the community that we hope will be a sign of things to come.
If you have an earthquake related question that you know is burning a hole in the back of your head and is one that affects a reasonable number of people then please check to see if it has been asked or not using this link. If it hasn’t let us know using the online form. Also look out for booklets that look like this in your local library and send us your ideas about where they should be or how they could be better.
A sort of tip!
From a happy resident. I am insured with State. I had a red zone property at Pines Beach.State offered me $8000 for fences drive etc but they
valued them at $23,000 I did nothing for 18 months and they have now suddenly offered me $17000. How many people have had the same type of low first offer made and have accepted it? Pays to negotiate or in this case wait!
Winter Assistance
Preparing for another winter with homes yet to be repaired or still draughty or damp: Red Cross warmer winter campaign will include home visits and packs and they will be working through community groups. There will be no welfare assistance grants this year to help with heating/power as were previously available. WINZ will take that role this year.
House sitter wanted
Mt Pleasant resident with flat in City needs a house sitter 4 June to Sept 1 large bedroom plus sunroom 4212899 No rent costs only $100- $125
pw. Please contact coordinator@mpcc.org.nz in the first instance.
Keep Our Assets Referendum Petition
For those who haven’t yet signed it but want to, the Keep Our Assets Referendum petition will be at the community stall on Saturday or you can download a copy here. There are six more weeks for this petition to run.
END
Community Update
Open house at Te Hut (Temporary Community Centre)
You are always welcome any time at the centre but every Tuesday and Thursday morning on-going we have open house where you are invited to stay awhile, read the Press, surf the internet, read a magazine, swear and cuss about your insurer – whatever! We have coffee and you are most welcome. 10.00 am to Noon.
Part-time Coordinator Role for Christchurch Coastal Pathway
Please see Employment on noticeboard for details http://www.mpcc.org.nz/notice-board/ Applications close soon.
New Food Box Delivery
We are re-launching our ‘Food Box’ delivery from Thursday 9 May and are extending our delivery area to a ‘foothills route’ between Sumner and Halswell . Our produce is even more locally grown now – two organically certified growers in Halswell. Its hand-picked and delivered on the same day, so very fresh. You can find out more information on our website - www.gardencity.org.nz/delivery.Many thanks – Bailey Peryman
For Info on Linwood Library Services
see here Find out more about the Linwood Library and Service Centre at Eastgate
Earthquake Related Information
CERA Advisory Service
This is a promising new service to assist home owners with their insurance settlement. Mt Pleasant residents will have easy access to the service as advisers will be working from the temporary community centre. To find out more about this service see here http://cera.govt.nz/support-and-assistance/residential-advisory-service . The phone lines will be operational from May 20th and appointments can be made from this date.
Well Being Research paints a complex picture
Research released in April provides a fascinating snapshot of how the Canterbury population is coping with the aftermath of one of New Zealand’s worst natural disasters. The All Right – Wellbeing Campaign
New Rib Raft Foundations for TC3 land
This is good news if you have TC3 land. http://cera.govt.nz/video/ribraft-tc3-foundation-solution
Red-stickered on the Port Hills
I’m trying to get in touch with people insured with Vero who have a house that is s124 red-stickered for geohazard reasons.
As most of you hopefully know; NZI, State, AMI and Lumley are paying replacement value for houses lost due to being s124 red-stickered. For most cases this will be much better than taking the government RV red-zone pay-out, assuming you qualify for that. However Vero currently is taking the position that they will pay only the value of the repairs that will never be done.
If you’re a Vero customer and wish to work on changing that, please email me on veroredstickered@gmail.com
Tony Ward-Holmes
The following information comes from the CanCern newsletter
Petition to the Hon. Gerry Brownlee – Urgently amend the EQC Claims Management Process
This petition comes largely as a result of an opinion piece written by Mai Chen in The Press here encouraging Cantabrians to lobby the Minister for Earthquake Recovery if they want the EQC claims management system reviewed.
High Court Earthquake List info page
The High Court Earthquake List info page (including how to take a case) is here: http://www.justice.govt.nz/media/christchurch/high-court-earthquake-list The actual list itself is hard to find, it is at a different site under Christchurch Earthquakes midway down this page: http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/
Survey on the Future of the Avon River Red Zone
http://lincoln.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6ApE46vx41rDaJL
Free materials Service
A free online service being launched throughout Canterbury is helping businesses, schools and other organisations reduce waste disposal costs while providing materials for others to use at no charge.
Christchurch City Council’s Free Materials service already has more than 200 registered suppliers and collectors.
The service works by enabling businesses, schools or other organisations to register as suppliers or collectors of goods. Participants that make available reusable materials they no longer have a use for can avoid the cost of sending these materials to landfill by offering them free to organisations that have a need for them.
The reusable materials may include such things as plastic pails, stationery, paper, pallets, furniture, electronic equipment and packaging. Items are listed on the website www.freematerials.co.nz where potential collectors can browse what is available and register their interest in collecting the materials.
Free Materials is part of the Christchurch City Council Target Sustainability services which help businesses become more resource efficient through reducing waste and being energy and water efficient. You can go to www.targetsustainability.co.nz for more information. All the Canterbury councils contribute financially towards the administration of Free Materials, through the Canterbury Waste Joint Committee.
Christchurch City Council is running a promotion for suppliers and collectors until 30 June 2013. Registered suppliers and collectors who get an eligible organisation to register as a new supplier could win a Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa prize package valued at almost $300.
For details, visit www.freematerials.co.nz
Community Update 25 April 2013
Painting mural – holiday fun
If you or the kids would like something creative to do these holidays enrol to help with the painting of our new mural on the Temp Centre. No artistic skill required as you will be ably led by local artist Melanie Riley. All you need to bring is some old clothes and your enthusiasm! contact coordinator@mpcc.org.nz to us know you are coming.
Fulton Hogan Update
Further on in this email is an update from Fulton Hogan on the management of traffic related issues during the detour of traffic around McCormacks Bay Road as from Monday. We are concerned that Fulton Hogan are now not proceeding with providing safe crossing points for pedestrians. We feel that over the six month period this will cause problems for the safe freedom of movement of pedestrians particularly children and the elderly. If you share this concern please call down to Fulton Hogan stall at the Farmers Market this Saturday between 10am and 11am to discuss this.
Underground coffee beans – now available at the Farmers Market
If you are a coffee aficionado come along to the Community Stall at the Farmers Market this Saturday and buy your freshly roasted Underground coffee beans. A portion of all sales go to the Community Centre and YouthLine.
New services for Insurance claimants
Finally!!! CERA and Council are putting in place support for residents with major insurance headaches caused by earthquake. Please tell everyone about these new services particularly elderly people who are recognised as struggling in many cases to understand the various confusing processes of rebuilding/repairing their homes.
CERA Service Council Advocacy Service
Fulton Hogan Update – McCormacks Bay Road
Causeway works – detour on McCormacks Bay Road
To answer questions raised around:
1. Road condition of the detour route
2. Safety for cyclists and pedestrians
3. School bus route and safety concern with crossing the road
1. Downer , the Council maintenance provider is currently carrying out repairs; they have reassured us the repairs will be ready before Monday 29 April. Surface improvement work has been done on the McCormacks Bay Road/Main Road western intersection. During our work on the causeway we will monitor the trafficable condition of the detour route and potholes will be repaired when needed.
2. To accommodate enough width for the cars and cyclists we will install no parking zones along the western route on McCormacks Bay Road (near the squash and community centre) west from Aratoro Place and near Basil Place where the road narrows, this will improve the two way traffic flow. The no parking zone near Basil Place will be on both side of the road, the no parking zone near the community centre will be only on the house side of the road. “Look for cyclists” and “Caution, cyclists merging” signs will be put in place on either side of the detour route on McCormacks Bay Road.
3. After meeting with the Redcliffs School and the bus operator it has been decided to move the existing bus stop near Balmoral Lane slightly south. To remove the risk of children crossing the road the bus stops will be on the house side of the McCormacks Bay Road for both pick up and drop off. The bus will use the community centre car park to turn around. The drop off for after school care will happen on the community centre car park so the children will not have to cross the road to enter the squash centre. The bus company will test run this in the second week of the school holidays. Depending on this test run we will have traffic management staff available on McCormacks Bay Road during pick up and drop off times. We have explored the options for pedestrian crossings but this is not an option. With moving the bus stop and allow pick up and drop off to happen on the safe side of the road, eliminating the need for crossing the road, we are confident we have mitigated the safety risk.
Fulton Hogan
New FACEBOOK page
Please ‘Like’ our new Facebook page – you will find the Friend us on Facebook button at the bottom of this email. Once on our page tick ‘Like”.
Community Update 16 April 2013
Road works start on Causeway
The replacement of the culverts and construction of a new sea wall on the estuary side of the causeway between the two McCormacks Bay intersections will begin on Monday 29 April. This will mean all causeway traffic will now detour round McCormacks Bay for the next six months! The Association is working with the City traffic unit to ensure the least amount of disruption for residents and Farmers Markets users. Read more about the repair plans here
Talking about the Farmers Market…
Have you caught up with the changes to the opening hours for the market? The market now opens at 9.30am and finishes at 12.30pm. Don’t forget to have a yarn with us at the Community info stall when you are down there.
School Holidays
- For info on the CCC’s Learning Centres School holiday programmes please see here
- If you, or some of your children/teenagers would be interested in helping us paint a mural on the Temporary Centre during the second week of the school holidays please email Linda on Coordinator@mpcc.org.nz This would be a great project to be involved with.
The Eastenders need some help to maintain tracks
Hi, I am the co-ordinator for a volunteer work team called the ‘Eastenders’ and we work on the walking tracks on the Port Hills (the east end typically….) . Mostly retired, we have a working bee on the second and fourth Monday of the month and work from 9am until 12pm. We are looking for new recruits to join us and help with the maintenance and building of tracks. Anybody who would enjoy a few hours of work and socializing would be welcome. Please contact Paul Tebbutt on 384 3086 or email stabbutt@clear.net.nz for further details.
Helpful earthquake/insurance related info
- Don’t forget CanCern is still out there working as hard as ever on our behalf, please find a link to their regular newsletters here CanCern Newsletters
- Canterbury Solutions Project Management have approached us thus: “We are working with a number of clients in the hill suburbs to provide comprehensive earthquake damage assessments to assist them in gaining their full insurance entitlements and undertake suite specific repairs or rebuilds. Often our fees can be covered by the insurance policy. If you are interested please see http://www.canterbury- solutions.co.nz/ Please note the Assn is only passing on this information and is not endorsing this service by doing so.
Important consultations closing
- Christchurch Coastal Pathway submissions close tomorrow at 5pm. If you want to see this project go forward please put in a submission saying so as it is definitely not a given. The results of this consultation will feed into the Council’s Draft Three Year Plan 2013-16. You can fill in the on-line submission form or simply send in a letter stating that you support the pathway and would like the Council to include money on its budget to start building it over the coming three years. Christchurch Coastal Pathway
- Council’s Draft Three Year Plan 2013-16 is currently open for submissions until the 19 April. Community input into this process is important and you can ask to speak to your submission too if you wish. Council Draft Plan
- The Land Use Recovery Plan (LURP) is another really important piece of planning work going on, the consultation period for this process closes Monday 22 April see here for details LURP
TTFN
Concept Plan of New Centre
Hi folks
Here is an image of the concept plan of the new Mt Pleasant Memorial Community Centre. The concept our architects, Leadbetter Carr & Duval O’Neill from Herriot & Melhuish Architecture came up with exactly met the brief the Association membership signed off on last November. The next stage of seeking further community input will occur once the Association knows how much funding it has secured for the build. That is not likely to be before June as that is when the result of the next large funding application will be known. As President Jocelyn Papprill said at the Association’s AGM on Wednesday evening, “the next stage will be cutting our cloth accordingly”. We have a plan of our ideal building but we can only build what we can afford. Nevertheless the Association is very encourage by the donation of $500,000 from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust. 
Community Centre receives $500,000 from Earthquake Appeal Trust
Yesterday the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust announced that they were donating $500,000 towards the rebuild of Mt Pleasant Memorial Community Centre, read more about this exciting piece of news for our community MR_Mt Pleasant Community Centre granted $500,000 by Appeal Trust (2)
Community Update 6 March 2013
Birds of Our Estuary
The Ihutai Trust is hosting an informative seminar by Andrew Crossland on the Birds of Our Estuary see here Birds of our Estuary
Print Making Appetiser
Local print maker Melanie Riley is running a two day course on print making. Looks really interestingPrint Making Appetiser
Rocks in McCormacks Bay
1) the high and dangerous state of the rock pile at the reserve, (there are gaps in the safety fence which children could get into and also the rocks are piled too high for general safety). It is planned that the rocks will be in the reserve until the completion of earthquake repairs to the causeway and the three laning project.
2) the need for the contractors who put in the new sewer line to return to repair the grounds back into a ‘park like’ state.
The officer agreed these items needed attention and will arrange to have them attended to.
People Power in the Heathcote Valley
Calling for a Leader
Red Cross Seminar
Lost and Found
Rental Accommodation needed
- A Mt Pleasant resident on a fixed income with a rebuild 12 months behind schedule is needing a one bedroom flat/house but can only afford $200.00 p.w
- I am looking for a reasonable rental, preferably two bedroom (but one is OK) for the next ten months to a year in the Mt Pleasant/Redclifffs area. I am a professional woman, out of my home for two years with a rebuild on the horizon.
Easter Church Services
Insulating your home when undertaking Earthquake Repairs
Canterbury Home Repair Programme Manager Reid Stiven says the opportunity has come about as the result of collaboration with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which has contributed technical advice.
“All non-earthquake insulation installations will have to be arranged and funded by the homeowner. But they could enjoy significant cost-savings if they can take advantage of insulating wall, ceiling and under floor cavities that are exposed during earthquake repairs,” Mr Stiven said.
Homeowners will be able to have insulation installed in conjunction with earthquake repairs, beginning March 1, 2013.
“A lot of homeowners have asked about getting insulation while their walls and other spaces are being opened up for repairs,” Mr Stiven said.
“The new approach, which was developed with EECA’s help, brings a common sense solution to a common situation, without bogging the system down in procedural complexities,” he said.
“The issue for EQC has been one of fair entitlement – we can’t cover insulation unless it was there before the earthquake – but now we can contribute to warmer drier homes, while not greatly impacting on the managed repair programme.”
EECA’s Chief Executive Mike Underhill says many affected Canterbury homeowners are being presented with a unique opportunity.
“We know that insulating walls, ceilings and under floors improves heat retention in a house by up to 70% – and that means more comfortable, healthier homes that are cheaper to heat.
“We also know that spaces like wall cavities, and some kinds of ceilings and floors, can be very difficult to insulate. Canterbury homeowners whose repair work exposes these kinds of areas and are able to seize this opportunity could be looking forward to much warmer winters.”
The Canterbury Home Repair Programme is New Zealand’s largest ever residential building programme. It covers properties with damage greater than $15,000 and less than $100,000 per event.
About 32,000 properties have so far been repaired, with about 53,000 remaining in the programme. Repairs are currently being completed at approximately 2,000 per month.
More information on installing insulation during repair work can be found at:http://www.eqc.govt.nz/canterbury-earthquakes/home-repairs/insulationEND
Community Update 6 February
Civil Defence warning
The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is advising New Zealand coastal communities that a tsunami is possible following a magnitude 8.0 earthquake near the Santa Cruz Islands (northern Vanuatu) at 14:12 New Zealand Time (NZDT) today. A tsunami has been generated, and the first wave may arrive in New Zealand in the areas around North Cape at approximately between 1800 and 1900 hours today. Listen to the radio/TV for further assessment and updates.
Calling All Mount Pleasant Itinerants
If you are one of the many Mt Pleasant people still unable to live in your own home due to earthquake damage, MPCC is inviting you to attend a gathering of residents facing the same situation on Saturday 23 February 4.00pm to 6.30pm. See here for the programme
Pleasant Day Out 16-17 February – It’s gonna be a blast!
We are still looking for volunteers to run the following activities at Pleasant Day out Saturday week. Lots of fun being involved with the PDO team: To find out what needs doing pleae see here
Mapping the damage – January update
For the January update on Tony Aldridge’s project on mapping the damage in Mt Pleasant please see here
Draft Ferry Road Master Plan
The Draft Ferry Road Master Plan is open for consultation from 28 January to 28 February. Note: If you feel strongly that the site of the old Mobil Oil and Ferrymead high rise should be re-zoned to conservation land or green space and not be allowed to return to commercial use, this is your opportunity to say so, not that we are posing any leading ideas here…
You can view the full copy of the plan at the Mt Pleasant Temporary community centre during office hours Tues, Wed & Thurs 10am to 3pm.
EQC Mediation Service
Having trouble with EQC? You may want to check out the EQC mediation service which is independently administered by AMINZ (Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand). The service is free to claimants. You can visit www.eqcmediation.org.nz or call 0800 866334 between the hours of 10.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday for more information.
Planning to rebuild your home?
People in Canterbury who are planning to re-build or renovate their earthquake damaged homes are encouraged to consult with Enable New Zealand advisors. To find out more read here.
Southern Response Meeting update
Further to our earlier email about Southern Response’s customer meeting on 12 February, we have now scheduled an additional meeting to be held 2.30-4.30pm on the same day, at the same venue.
No through traffic Linwood Avenue for two weeks
The intersection with Aldwins and Buckleys Road will be closed to through traffic along Linwood Avenue for two weeks from the 4th Feb as SCIRT delivery team Downer begins trenching across Linwood Avenue..
Lost and Found
If you have found a stray cat please check here under Lost and Found to see if it is the missing Albert a much missed family pet. http://www.mpcc.org.nz/notice-board/
END
Latest Pleasant News – Out Now
The latest edition of Pleasant News is being delivered to your letterbox this week but in case you don’t receive a copy here is a link to it minus a graphic or two so we could post it on the website. This copy carries interesting mapping of the earthquake damage to Mt Pleasant.
Pleasant News December 2012
Ferrymead Bridge update
Please see here for the latest update on the Ferrymead Bridge Ferrymead Bridge Update 19 December 2012