How to enter

• Only one entry per person will be accepted
• Important! Identify the place where your photo was taken and date.
• Provide a short description (max. 30 words) to identify the subject matter and tell us about  the special feature you wanted to capture in your picture
• Include your name, email address and phone number
• By entering the competition you give permission for your photo to be used by the MPCC. All photos used will be credited to the photographer.
• Photos will be judged by two MPCC committee members and the winning entries will be contacted directly. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• The competition closes on 2 March, 2012. The winning photographs will be published on our website
• All photos received this week will be displayed at Pleasant Day Out

Send your photo in digital form to jocelyn@mpcc.org.n

Here’s some examples – we’re sure you can do much better!!

18 — 19 February

Pleasant Day Out, our annual community event on the hill, is going to be a 24 hour event this year involving heaps of music, laughs and remembrance. A chance for our community to share, reflect and look forward to the year ahead.  For those who want to, there will even be a chance to camp out (replicating the tent city which sprang up on the eve of the February 22 last year).  On the Sunday morning we will have breakfast followed by more events and a very special Remembrance service.  All events are based at the Mt Pleasant school. See below for the programme.

Please note: This event supersedes the event which was to have taken place on the 19^th February as advertised in Summer Times booklet. 

Events

Saturday 18th February

Events listed are still being finalised

Stage One

12.30-1.30        Rachel Dawick Folk Rock

1.30- 2.30         Carrot & Pickles – for all ages

2.30-3.30          Baywatch – Rock and Roll

3.30-4.30          Offshoot – 80′s classic hits

4.30-5.00          Ukulele Orchestra - Ukeleles and fun music

5.00-6.00         Global Voices –  Acapela world music

6.00-6.30          Latin Fire – dance group

6.30- 7.30         Nick Lee – Solo soft rock guitar and vocals

7.30-8.30          The Womens Division  (Izzy Miller Bell)

8.30-9.30          Joe Davies – Electronic and Disco

9.30-11.30        Sign of the Firebird – Classic Rock

11.30pm           The big camp out begins

Stage two

Young peoples’ stage with lots of surprises. If you are a young person and would like to take part in the Young performers section contact Joe Davies 027 655 9709

Other entertainment

 1.00— 4pm Face painting

1.00—4pm Bouncy castle

3.30pm & 7.30pm Poetry reading and creating

Kids busking  and kids art table with prize for best works

Celebrate our Community Photo Competition – Bring your favourite photo of Mt Pleasant to be published on our website – prize to be won. See details in the post above.

Regular movie screenings to keeps kids entertained – bring your favourite DVD to share.

Joe Davies document  Mt Pleasant The Forgotten suburb

Mt Pleasant Response and Resilience update

Sunday 19th February

7.30am—9.30am Community breakfast

9.30— Aunty Jocelyn’s Sunday Stories – follow the pied piper to Aunty Jocelyn who will tell you wonderful tales.

10.00-10.30 – Zumba with Carolyn Wright

10.30pm – Gather for Memorial Celebration service

10.45— Women in Harmony choir

10.55- Scott Thelning (immediate past Principal of Mt Pleasant School) reflects on the year that has been.

11.15 – Hon Ruth Dyson MP for Port Hills

11.25 – Tom Davies shares some thoughts

11.30 – Women in Harmony

11.35 – A reading by Rosie Dalkie Year 7 pupil of Mt Pleasant School

11.45 – Rev Neil Keesing

11.55 – Song to the tune of Amazing Grace – lyrics by Derrek McCullough;

12.00pm – Chris Nord , current Principal of Mt Pleasant School closes ceremony

Food and Drink

Feel free to bring your own or choose from our International food vendors:
Brazillian Coffee
French crepes
Italian Pizza
German sausages
Egyptian baking,
Argentinean empanadas

But we need help!!!!!!

Help us get organized for this great event— please let us know if you would like a camping space booked or if you can help us on any of the ways listed below :

Tent City
As the music and entertainment will run until late, there will be an opportunity for those who want to camp overnight to do so. You can either bring your own tent or book a space in one of the large tents provided (sleeping arrangements will be marae-style).  As space is limited you will need to reserve a spot for your tent or your space in a communal tent. In recognition of the effect the quake has taken on our community, priority will be given to those who are currently unable to live in their homes.

due to earthquake damage, so please include this in your response if this is your situation. However we think there will be plenty of room for everyone who wants to camp.

To book your spaces please email Corinne on corinne.paine@xtra.co.nz
Market Stalls
Space is available for people, organizations and businesses to have a display stall on the 18^th from 12 noon until whenever you would like to finish. The cost is $20.00 per table. Please email coordinator@mpcc.org.nz  to register.

Baking Donations
If you are able to donate some baking to sell at the event, please let Corinne know on corinne.paine@xtra.co.nz. All money raised will go back to the community association.
We look forward to hearing from you.

Helpers Needed
In addition to  an international mix of food and drink to purchase we will be running the traditional sausage sizzle, baking and candy floss stalls to cover costs of the event. We therefore need volunteers to work on rosters for the following jobs during the event:
·        Sausage sizzle
·        Candy floss stand
·        Baking stall
·        General help on the day
If you are able to help please email coordinator@mpcc.org.nz as soon as possible.

Please note: This event supersedes the event which was to have taken place on the 19^th February as advertised in Summer Times booklet.

Next swap meet is on Sunday 29th January @ the front of Major Hornbrook Rd shops from 3-4pm. Alma officiating!
Our last swap meet was a wonderfully chatty time with delicious garden produce exchanged.

Make the most of this glorious weather and join Adventure Specialties atCorsairBay,LytteltonHarbour.  There are a choice of three activities including swim safe, kayaking fun and coasteering.

Swim Safe      Learn water safety and rescue techniques, with lots of fun challenges.

Kayaking Fun Supervised use of sit-on-top kayaks, with plenty of fun and games.

Coasteering   Explore rock pools, traverse the coastline and learn about our ecosystem.

The programme is running  from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday until 28^th January.  Activities are most suitable for 8 years and over.  The price is just $2.50 per activity or $5 for 2 or more activities.  Lifejackets are provided.  Numbers limited and are on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, please phone Adventure Specialties on 379 9130, 021 139 8156  or the Christchurch City Council on 941 8999, or 0800 800 169.

Visit www.metroinfo.co.nz for buses to and fromCorsairBay.    This programme is brought to you by the Christchurch City Council.

• Great Choice Movie Night – tonight!
• Pleasant Day Out  – One Year On
• Central City Consumer Study
• Swap meet – this Sunday
• A message from Skylight re earthquake stress issues

Great Choice Movie Night

Don’t forget the free outdoor movie on the mountain tonight! Old School Reserve, Major Hornbrook Road., 8.30pm – 10.30pm.  The movie is called No. 2 (96 mins) Drama. The heart has gone out of Nanna Maria’s family. There are no parties – they don’t even fight anymore. Inspired by a dream of her childhood back in Fiji, Nanna demands that her grandchildren put on a big feast at which she will name her successor.

Pleasant Day Out – One Year On!

When: midday 18^th February – midday 19^th February

Where: Mt Pleasant School grounds

Pleasant Day Out, our annual community event on the hill, is going to be a 24 hour event this year involving heaps of music, laughs and remembrance. A chance for our community to share, reflect and look forward to the year ahead.  For those who want to, there will even be a chance to camp out (replicating tent city last February). On the Sunday morning we will have breakfast followed by more events and a very special remembrance service. A programme of events will arrive in your letterbox in the early part of February but in the meantime you can help us organise this fantastic event by reading the information below and responding to us if you can help or if you would like to book a space to campout.

Tent City

As the music and entertainment will run until late, there will be an opportunity for those who want to camp overnight to do so. You can either bring your own tent or book a space in one of the large tents provided (sleeping arrangements will be marae-style).  As space is limited you will need to reserve a spot for your tent or your space in a communal tent. In recognition of the effect the quake has taken on our community priority will be given to those who are currently unable to live in their homes due to earthquake damage, so please include this in your response if this is your situation. To book your spaces please email Corinne on corinne.paine@xtra.co.nz .

Community Stalls

Space is available for people and organisations to have a community stall on the 18^th from 12 noon until whenever you would like to finish. The cost is $20.00 per table. Please email mtpleasantcommunityassn@xtra.co.nz to register for a stall.

Helpers Needed

Although there will be an international mix of food and drink to purchase we will be running the traditional sausage sizzle, baking and candy floss stalls to cover some of the costs of the event. We therefore need volunteers to work on rosters for the following jobs during the event:

• Sausage sizzle
• Candy floss stand
• Baking stall
• General help on the day

If you are able to help please email mtpleasantcommunityassn@xtra.co.nz as soon as possible and before 31 January.

Baking Donations

If you are able to donate some baking to sell at the event, please let Corinne know on corinne.paine@xtra.co.nz. All money raised will go back to the community association.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Please note: This event supersedes the event which was to have taken place on the 19^th February as advertised in Summer Times booklet.

Red-stickered residents

If anyone is red-stickered and not receiving the email updates as put out by Terry O’Leary please email mtpleasantcommunityassn@xtra.co.nz

Central City Consumer Study

You may wish to take part in this survey regarding the Central city. www.ceraconsumersurvey.org.nz

Swap Meet

This Sunday afternoon 3-4pm out front of the shops on Mjr Hornbrook Rd. Bring along spare garden produce, jams, pickles, breads, cakes, books & and ‘yarns’ you’d like to swap. This is a community activity that occurs each fortnight & open to anyone in our suburb. You don’t need to stay for the whole hour if you don’t want – come & go as you please as long as you swap something.

A message from Skylight – help for Earthquake related stress

We’re emailing to let you know about Skylight’s new support material launched for Cantabrians – adults, teens and children – as they try to deal with both the continuing earthquakes, and the upcoming first anniversary of February 22nd. We also continue to offer some established support options that you may not know about. These options are likely to also be useful for those people now living outside of Canterbury who have been affected by the earthquakes in any way.

As you may know, Skylight’s specialty as an organisation is loss, trauma, disaster and grief support for all ages. The following support information may be helpful for your own organisation’s Canterbury staff or clients – or for your own family/whanau and friends, or other community networks. Please see below and forward as appropriate, so this support can be as useful as possible for as many as possible. Thank you.

1. Skylight has the following articles available. Please contact Skylight for a copy www.skylight.org.nz

• The Anniversary – preparing and remembering. This is easy to read and written for Canterbury people as they look towards the upcoming 22^nd Feb. Anniversary – pdf
• When the quakes go on and on and on. Easy to read, this has been specifically written in response to Canterbury people now telling us just how difficult ongoing coping is and how sick they are of the word resilience! This gives them many options to try to take control of their own wellbeing as much as possible. – pdf
• Stressed Out? Colourful posters you can download for notice boards or hallways, for workplaces or homes, and great symbols for all ages.
• When Trauma and Grief Comes to Work – for employers and managers supporting staff and clients – pdf (You may have seen this, or been sent a copy, but many continue to find it useful. You are welcome to forward to others that you know.)

2. A free copy of Surviving Traumatic Grief: When Loved Ones Die in a Disaster, published by Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is available on request.  A group of survivors from bushfire affected communities in Victoria have put together this book and have gifted copies to Canterbury, via Skylight. It tells their own stories and suggests ways to cope and get through the devastation of loss and trauma and change. It is most relevant to those bereaved by the disaster. The book includes a personal separate letter of encouragement from them also. To request a copy, please email tricia@skylight-trust.org.nz

3. Skylight has brought in a special international shipments of an extremely effective post-trauma books:

One is for children 4 – 7 years old, but is also very good for older ones listening in too. It is called A TERRIBLE THING HAS HAPPENED and is used widely around the world in post-disaster situations. Here is the link for it that gives a more full description etc., if relevant: http://www.skylight.org.nz/Shop/A+Terrible+Thing+Happened

We have also brought in copies of this internationally respected handbook for trauma survivors, which may be useful for those you know or support: http://www.skylight.org.nz/Shop/Life+After+Trauma+-++A+Workbook+for+Healing

4. Skylight’s earthquake support webpage continues, being updated with new links, pdfs and downloads regularly – See www.skylight.org.nz - links to the support page are on the front homepage. It features key information for adults, teens and children too.
5. Trauma and Disaster support resources to use to work through post earthquake issues – children, teens and adults. The feedback about the effectiveness of these has been outstanding. (Discounts are available for 10 plus copies of any title): See this link: http://www.skylight.org.nz/Shop/Disaster+Aftermath+Resources

5. Phone counselling is also available still – weekdays 9am – 5pm – phone 0800 299 100.

6. And you can request a personalised support pack tailor made for the particular circumstances of your own families or staff, or for clients, which will be posted to them. We have a wide range of support resource and information relating to earthquakes, disaster and trauma – for all ages. This is something we do for anywhere in NZ. Skylight can be contacted on 0800 299 100 or +64 4 939 6767.
or by email rs@skylight-trust.org.nz

Skylight has previously assisted with disaster recovery in Victoria (bushfires) and the Queensland (floods), as well as the West Coast Mining Disaster and September 4^th earthquake in Christchurch.

We are totally committed to supporting the Christchurch community in any way we can. Please be in touch anytime.

Sincerely,

Tricia Irving Hendry

Skylight

Deputy Chief Executive

PO Box 7309

Wellington 6242

NEW ZEALAND

+64 4 939 6761 (DD)

+64 4 939 6767

0800 299 100

www.skylight.org.nz

BECAUSE GRIEF HAPPENS – AND SUPPORT MATTERS!

 Media Release         

Public Information Update #6

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says that there is a real determination in our city not to let the events of the past 24 hours ruin Christmas. Our crews have worked overnight and will be working all today to restore services to the city.

“Our goal is that by the end of the day we will have made the necessary emergency repairs to our water, wastewater and roads by tonight.

“It has been a hellish year. I am determined to get as much as we can fixed by tonight so that our staff, apart from a skeleton team, can spend Christmas with their families,” Mr Parker says.

Earthquake count

There have been 36 earthquakes, ranging from 3.1 to 6.0, between 1.58pm 23 December and 12 noon 24 December 2011. Four have been 5.0 and over.

Welfare

Neighbourhood Support staff have been working closely with Civil Defence staff to coordinate their 2,000 volunteers across the city to gather information from the badly affected areas.

Windsor School Welfare Centre is now closed and the two people who stated overnight have been re-housed.

Welfare teams have been door knocking in the east and have made contact with 300 householders as well as people in the street.

Anyone who is feeling distressed or overwhelmed by the aftershocks and needs extra help to cope with the situation can call the Canterbury Support Line on 0800 777 846 between 8am – 11pm seven days a week, including Christmas Day.

Those people who would like Christmas lunch are invited to the City Mission Christmas lunch atChristchurchEastSchool–311 Gloucester Street, 11.30am – 2.00pm. People are advised to arrive at 11.30am.  

Toilets

People who have already been issued with chemical toilets in the east of the city, and who are having problems with their waste water should use their chemical toilets while the sewers are being cleared. If you need more chemicals phone the call centre (941 8999 / 0800 800 169) and we will get them delivered to your property.

If you don’t have a chemical toilet but you are having problems with flushing the toilet and waste water phone the call centre and a portable toilet will be delivered to you.

Kerbside collection

The Christchurch City Council’s kerbside collection will go ahead as usual with collection days next week, i.e. if your normal collection is Monday or Tuesday then we will be collecting Monday and Tuesday (even though they are holidays).

Water

Sumner has now had the water supply restored. You do not need to boil the water. As the water comes on it may be slightly discoloured. People are advised to gently run the tap for two minutes.

Repairs to water mains in several areas will result in water being cut off to some streets temporarily. In most cases water should be back on within a couple of hours. If you have no water after four hours phone the call centre: 941 8999 / 0800 800 1869.

 Waste water and solid waste

The Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant is fully functional. There are waste water overflows into theAvonRiverand into theStyx. Please stay away from the rivers and estuaries. 

Power

About 30 homes were without power at 12 noon today. Any customers without power can contact Orion on 0800 363 9898. The power supply network inNew Brightonand Bexley area remains fragile. Some power supply in the Bexley area is currently being provided by an emergency diesel generator.

Roading and road closures

Liquefaction and flooding is still causing problems in the east. Contractors are busy clearing roads and filling in potholes to assist with access and making roads safe.

Closed roads –Bower Avenue(Beach RoadtoBroadhaven Avenue), Atlantis Street,Waygreen Avenue,Wattle Drive(Travis RoadtoSandy Avenue),St Davids Street,GloucesterStreet (MontrealtoDurhamstreets) andFitzgerald Avenuerestrictions close toChester Street(east). 

Buildings

A block of flats at136 Salisbury Streethas been issued a 124 notice prohibiting entry due to damage to the stairwell. Residents have been evacuated.

If you are worried about the safety of your home evacuate the building and contact a building professional as soon as you are able.

Owners of commercial buildings are urged to engage a Chartered Professional (structural) Engineer to check their buildings before allowing people to occupy them. 

Council buildings and facilities

All Council buildings have been closed and priority has been made for their inspection and structural evaluation. 

Rock fall

Rock fall and cliff collapse has been successfully contained by temporary protection measures installed prior to the events of yesterday.

People are reminded to stay away from the Port Hills unless they live there, or need to be there.

Stop banks

There are ongoing repairs to stop banks. There is no immediate cause for concern around river flooding.

Student Army

To volunteer, or to ask for help with physical labour, go to www.facebook.com/#!/StudentVolunteerArmy  .

Emergency Operation Centre status

EOC is closing down at 2pm today (Saturday). The Call Centre (941 8999 / 0800 800 169) will be operational over the public holidays. 

For further information phone:

CDEM Media phone:  027 241 0244

Media email: cdpublicinfo@ccc.govt.nz

Website: www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz

 Media Release             

Public Information Update #5

 Water supply and waste water

Water infrastructure is holding. Sampling of water in reservoirs and wells will continue today. There is no need to boil water.

Water is now being restored in Sumner.

As the water comes on it may be slightly discoloured. People are advised to gently run the tap for two minutes.

Water tankers are located at The Esplanade and at the junction ofWakefield AvenueandNayland Street.

Residents should have water across the city. Anyone who does not have water should phone the call centre on 941 8999  / 0800 800 169.

Waste water is overflowing in to theAvonRiver. Please stay away from the river and estuary.

Roads and access

Contractors are busy clearing roads filling in potholes to assist with access and making roads safe. 

Student Army

The Student Army have mobilised. To volunteer, or to ask for help with physical labour, go to www.facebook.com/#!/StudentVolunteerArmy  . 

High tide

High tides have not caused any problems. Stop banks are being inspected and will continue to be monitored. 

Welfare

Windsor School Welfare Centre had two people staying overnight and will close at 11am today.

Anyone who is feeling distressed or overwhelmed by the aftershocks and needs extra help to cope with the situation can call the Canterbury Support Line on 0800 777 846 between 8am – 11pm seven days a week, including Christmas Day.

Those people who would like Christmas lunch are invited to the City Mission Christmas lunch atChristchurchEastSchool–311 Gloucester Street, 11.30am – 2.00pm. People are advised to arrive at 11.30am.  

Buildings

If you are worried about the safety of your home evacuate the building and contact a building professional as soon as you are able.

Owners of commercial buildings are urged to engage a Chartered Professional (structural) Engineer to check their buildings before allowing people to occupy them. 

Toilets

People who have already been issued with chemical toilets in the east of the city, and who are having problems with their waste water should use their chemical toilets while the sewers are being cleared. If you need more chemicals phone the call centre (941 8999 / 0800 800 169) and we will get them delivered to your property.

If you don’t have a chemical toilet but you are having problems with flushing the toilet and waste water phone the call centre and a portable toilet will be delivered to you. 

Parks update

With reports of rock falls around the Port Hills the Rapaki track that was re-opened yesterday is now closed.

Please check for on-site signs before walking any of the Port Hills tracks as many are closed because of the risk of rock fall.  Other parks remain open including the Botanic Gardens,  Bottle Lake Forest Park, Spencer Park, Groynes and Halswell Quarry. 

People are reminded to stay away from the Port Hills unless they live there, or need to be there. Rock fall remains a potential hazard in hill areas, including Rapaki Track which was re-opened for public use yesterday morning, before this recent cluster of aftershocks.

The bus system continues to operate across the city, as usual. 

Retail

The Central City Re:Start shopping precinct is open today, however, the Cathedral Square Walkway is closed.

A number of supermarkets have reopened. Please see  www.foodstuffs-si.co.nz and www.countdown.co.nz . 

For further information phone:

CDEM Media phone:  027 241 0244

Media email: cdpublicinfo@ccc.govt.nz

Website: www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz

Three major aftershocks have hit Christchurch this afternoon – 5.8, 5.3 and then 5.8.

Civil Defence says that the situation in the city is not as bad as it was in September or February in terms of damage or liquefaction – but probably similar to what was experienced in June.

There are no plans to declare a state of emergency and the people of Christchurch are urged to take care of their families and neighbours as they have done in the past.

Civil Defence staff have flown over the city by helicopter which has

revealed:

*       Rockfalls in the Port Hills particularly Redcliffs, Scarborough

and Whitewash Head, Peacocks Gallop and Richmond Hill; but no major landslips and no obvious impact on properties and lifelines on the Port Hills.  There are more rocks on Evans Pass Road.

1       Further damage to the Christchurch Cathedral’s western wall and

to other buildings in the city

2       There is liquefaction in the east of the city – particularly

Dallington, Wainoni. Avonside and Parklands.  Bexley is the worst area and there are reports of cars stuck in liquefaction.  There do not appear to be any new areas of liquefaction.  There has also been flooding on some roads, particularly around Pages Road.

People are advised to stay away from the Port Hills unless they live there or need to be there.  Teams of geotechnical engineers are out now

assessing the hill areas from Sumner to Diamond Harbour.   If residents are concerned about any rock fall, cliff collapse or landslide issues around their homes they should contact the Council call centre, which can alert geotechnical engineers.

The Council is currently inspecting roads and other infrastructure.

Critical bridges have been checked including bridges at Moorhouse Avenue, Bridge Street and Gayhurst Road, and there has been no further damage to these.  Traffic lights are out in the east of the city

The Lyttelton tunnel is open.

There has been a sewer overflow into the Avon River reported and people should avoid contact with the river and the estuary for 48 hours.  The city’s treatment plants are working.  There is no apparent damage to water infrastructure and the Chief Medical Officer of Health is not advising people to boil water at this stage.

There has been some stop bank damage along the Avon River but no breaches.  The next high tide around 4am Saturday may bring issues.

People are advised not to travel unless it is essential.  Buses will operate a restricted service for the rest of the day to ensure people can get home tonight.

Windsor School hall is being activated as a welfare centre and will be open by 8pm.  This is just for sheltering overnight and there will be no catering.  People planning to use the centre need to bring their own supplies (food and bedding etc).

There is plenty of fuel and no need for people to panic buy fuel.

Petrol stations are well stocked and there is plenty of bulk fuel at Lyttelton.

Orion is reporting that 13,000 homes are without power, mainly in the Brighton area.  Most are expected to have power back on by dark tonight but people are asked to prepare for intermittent power supply for the next few days.

If you are worried about the safety of your home evacuate the building and contact a building professional as soon as you are able.

Owners of commercial buildings are urged to check their buildings before allowing people to occupy them.

There will be four teams of Civil Defence and Red Cross staff door knocking in the east tonight to determine needs of residents and offer reassurance.

The CBD red zone has been shut down and no-one is allowed in.

The Council call centre is up and running for people with urgent water and sewage calls.  Ph 941 8999 or 0800 800 169, but please be patient.

For the latest information listen to radio news programmes, refer to the website www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz , follow the Council on Twitter and like us on Facebook.  This is where you will get the latest information.

There will be a further update at 10.30pm today.

For further information phone:

CDEM Media phone:  027 241 0244

Media email: cdpublicinfo@ccc.govt.nz

Website: www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz

As this extraordinary year comes to a close I’d like to thank you for your commitment to our suburb and the for the support you have given, not only to the Association but also to each other. While a number of people did return to the hill after the initial aftershock period some were unable to return to their homes. As the summer progresses we will see many more homes demolished while those of you with section 124 notices on your homes continue to wait for a definitive answer. A 100% rates relief may help soften that waiting period somewhat.

The repair and rebuild will take a long time. As a residents’ association we aim to continue providing information and support but also activities and fun events. To that end we hope that you will join with other members of our community on February 18th for our ‘Pleasant Day Out’ (more on this in subsequent emails). In early January we are aiming to have our temporary centre in place. It has been an arduous process but once in place there will be regular community working bees organised to decorate and prepare it for use. We welcome your energy and skills during that time.

Finally, I wish each or you and your families all the very best for the summer festive season. I hope you can put aside the worries for a day or two and enjoy a peaceful and joyous Christmas and New Year.

Ngā mihi o te wā me te Tau Hou
Gesegnete Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr!

Jocelyn Papprill
Chair

Farmers Market Christmas Hours
The Farmers Market will be open 17th Dec Normal; 24th 9am till Lunchtime with Carols, mulled wine and Christmas Cake; and 31st Normal. Tom Davies.

The latest from Janine Starks

‘Janine Starks looks at the implications of a new insurance policy tweak that will put the pinch on homeowners forced to rebuild in the event of a new event.’

http://www.interest.co.nz/personal-finance/57151/janine-starks-looks-implications-new-insurance-policy-tweak-will-put-pinch-ho

Water Quality Study
A survey of recreational users of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai.

The Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai Trust and Environment Canterbury have funded a summer research scholarship for post graduate student Michelle Marquet at Lincoln University. The project looks at the following:

What recreational users of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai know about microbiological water pollution and where this information comes from; What factors influence their decisions about microbiological water quality to undertake recreational activity and; To what extent do these users utilise information on this issue provided by the regional council.

Your participation in this project would involve filling out a short online survey and would be greatly appreciated. For further information and to complete the survey click the following link: http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/waterquality
Notice To Fix Issued On Dangerous Homes
Notices to fix are being issued by the Christchurch City Council on 27 homes in the Port Hills that are in danger from geotechnical risks like rockfall, cliff collapse and landslide.

The Council has issued to around 500 homes notices prohibiting entry under section 124 of the Building Act since 22 February 2011 for geotechnical reasons because of the significant risk created by recent earthquakes. The Council has issued these notices because it considers it dangerous to live in these homes and public safety has been the top priority.

Despite the danger, the Council is aware of a small number of residents who have chosen to remain in their homes.

Council General Manager Regulation and Democracy Services Peter Mitchell says the Council is obliged to enforce the section 124 notices already issued, and will today issue a “Notice to Fix” on properties where it is known residents are still living.

“We can not sit back and ignore the fact that people are living in homes that we have deemed are at risk of rockfall or other geotechnical issues. Our city is still at risk of another earthquake and the outcome could be tragic for these residents or people visiting their homes.

“We are aware of 27 properties where people continue to reside, despite the issue of notices prohibiting entry. Today we will issue secondary notices to these properties.

“While we understand that it is difficult for people who can not be in their homes, we must make safety the number one priority. The notices have been issued for good reason and it is very important that people follow them,” Mr Mitchell says.

The Notice to Fix is essentially a reiteration of the first section 124 notice. The Notice to Fix will require compliance within 20 working days from the date of service – for notices issued today, that means compliance is required by 18 January 2012. Should any residents remain in these homes after that date, the Council will consider applying to the District Court for an injunction. The issue would then sit with the Court for any further action.
100% Rates Relief For At-Risk Hill Homes
Properties that have been issued section 124 notices prohibiting entry will not have to pay rates while residents are out of their homes.

Christchurch City Council today (Thursday 15 December) agreed to amend its Rates Remission Policy to give owners of properties at risk of rockfall, cliff collapse, unsafe access or who have been instructed by the Council to leave their properties under section 124 (1) (b) of the Building Act 100 per cent rates remission.

The earthquake-related rates remission policy adopted by the Council for 2011/12 provides 40 per cent rates remission for residential properties that are unable to be occupied. The Council considered that because residents are not entitled to occupy properties where section 124 notices have been issued and that Council is obliged to enforce these notices, that full remission on rates was appropriate.

There are currently 525 properties affected, however this number could increase as risk assessments continue in the hills. You can read the report to Council about this matter on today’s online agenda at: http://www1.ccc.govt.nz/council/proceedings/2011/december/cnclcover15th/index.asp

Support and assistance
Residents are advised to contact their insurance company to discuss how their policies can be used to provide assistance during the time that notices are in effect.

For information on Government assistance that may be available to homeowners, visit the Support and Assistance section of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) website www.cera.govt.nz/support-and-assistance or phone 0800 RING CERA (0800 7464 2372).

For more information contact:
Amanda Healy
Senior Communications Adviser
Christchurch City Council
027 599 4579

www.ccc.govt.nz/porthillsgeotech