Community Update 11 September 2011

The following items are included in this update:

Community Meeting – this Tuesday
Pleasant News – August editionNotes from Cera meeting held at Sumner School Hall 7 Sept
Soleares Ave non- update
Three-laning of Main Road Minutes
Retaining Wall advice
Hot Chocolate on the hill

Community Meeting this Tuesday

Don’t forget to come to the urban planning meeting for Mt Pleasant Residents on Tuesday 13 June, 7.30pm at Redcliffs Bowling Club, 11James Street, Redcliffs. Local Mt Pleasant architects will take us through the good, the bad and what could be improved aspects of our suburb. A community discussion will follow on what we would like for our neighbourhood post-quake.The second half of the meeting will be devoted to how a newly rebuilt community centre could best serve the needs of residents. Remember Mt Pleasant is quite unique in that the community centre belongs to us and not CCC so it is us that must determine the shape of the centre rebuild. For more information contact Linda 384-2160.

Mt Pleasant News – August edition

If you did not receive a hard copy in your letter box please find a link to it on the web here http://tiny.cc/32ckh

Notes from Cera meeting held at Sumner School Hall 7 Sept

The above can be found here http://tiny.cc/dtc7p.

Soleares Ave non- update 6 September2011

Soleares Avenue will be closed for some time because this road would require major repairs. At this stage the designs have not yet been conceptualised, thus we cannot advise what the time frame will be when works will commence.

Hannah Mirabueno
Port Hills Geotech Team

Three laning of Main Road

The minutes of a recent meeting held between CCC andaffected Community groups regarding changes to the proposed three-laning project can be found here http://tiny.cc/6jyd6.

Community Energy Action

This year thousands of Christchurch households have been struggling with an awful combination of earthquake-damaged, leaky homes and two bitterly cold snow events. Many will be facing at least a couple of months struggling with high energy bills. Community Energy Action’s Home Energy Advisors can provide free and independent advice on short, medium and long term issues including; 1.high energy bills; 2.how to upgrade the energy efficiency of a home as earthquake damage is repaired; 3.how to find an energy efficient home if a household has to shift. 4.key home energy efficiency strategies for building a new home.

Further details here

Retaining Wall advice

The following advice has come via Lyttelton from Community Law we are told. Please check with Community Law if you have any question regarding this topic.

Who Owns the Retaining Wall
In a nutshell, who owns a retaining wall depends on location, and land ownership either side of the retaining wall. A retaining wall may be owned by either one party, or several parties depending on the land title and location. There are always exceptions to the rule, but as a basic guide:

• If a retaining wall is entirely within the legal boundary of your property, then you are fully responsible for the construction, repairs or maintenance of that retaining wall.
• If a retaining wall is sited on the legal boundary, the retaining wall is considered a “fence” under the Fencing Act 1978. Under the Fencing Act, owners who share the boundary are equally liable to contribute in equal proportions to the construction, repairs or maintenance of the retaining wall.

Main exception to this guide: Where a retaining wall is sited on the legal boundary, and the boundary is shared with a road, footpath, national park, railway, marginal strip, esplanade reserve or esplanade strip – the Fencing Act 1978 does not apply. Therefore, the residential property owner is liable for the full cost of construction, repairs and maintenance of the retaining wall. Refer: Fencing Act 1978, Section 3 – Application of Act.

With basic ownership established, the question transfers into, what will be covered by the Earthquake Commission. This plain english text has recently been released by the Earthquake Commission, and follows the Earthquake Commission Act 1993, Section 19 – Residential Land:

Land Claim – What’s covered
If your dwelling is insured, EQC cover also insures a certain defined area of your residential land. EQC will pay the amount of damage to your insured land (usually the repair cost if the land is repairable) or the value of your insured land at the time of the earthquake or natural disaster, whichever is less. This cover is limited and is restricted to land within your land holding which comprises:

• The land under your dwelling
• The land within 8 metres of your dwelling
• The land of the main accessway up to 60 metres from your dwelling, but not the surface

The maximum amount for which your residential land is insured under the Act is the value, at the site of the damage, of the smallest of these three areas:

• The minimum area allowable under your district plan for land used (in other words, the minimum sized section allowed in your district)
• 4000 square metres
• The area of land that is actually lost or damaged

EQC also covers some retaining walls, and bridges and culverts within affected properties, but for less than the replacement value. EQC does not cover the land if your dwelling is not insured against fire, and it does not cover your residential land if the insurance policy for your dwelling has lapsed or been cancelled at the time of the natural disaster. Nor does it cover consequential losses which might occur after an earthquake or natural disaster, such as theft,vandalism, loss of profits or business interruption.

EQC cover of residential land also excludes some items, such as:

• Roads, streets, drives or paths
• Retaining walls more than 60 metres from your dwelling or insured building, and retaining walls not necessary for the support or protection of your dwelling or insured building(s)
• Retaining walls, bridges or culverts more than 8 metres from your home or, if they are on the main driveway, more than 60 metres from your home

Have you been to Aji’s yet?

Take the kids for a treat of hot chocolate. What a hidden treasure trove lies down the stairs at Aji – 189 Mt PleasantRd. The Deli offers Mediterranean staples for cooking; a vast array of European chocolate; and spices and chilis from around the world. Take advantage of trained chef Imogen’s culinary expertise — handy to know you can pick up pasta, olives and smoked paprika without leaving the hill! Just check the website for opening hours though:www.aji.co.nz.