By Ally Mullord
An international expert in disaster recovery says he's shocked at the slow rate of deconstruction in Christchurch.
Chief executive of Architecture for Humanity Cameron Sinclair, who helped with the New Orleans recovery after Hurricane Katrina, says demolition crews should be working around the clock seven days a week.
Mr Sinclair says the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), which currently doesn't have a confirmed timeframe for completing the process, should have deadlines in place and be offering companies incentives to get the job done.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker spoke to Firstline this morning about how the deconstruction timeframe will affect the city.
He says CERA still has time for demolition, but the clock is starting to tick.
“There is still time for [CERA] in terms of the need to plan for the reconstruction of the city, in terms of the need to get the geotechnical information to know that we can actually rebuild,” he says.
“We’re certainly watching closely, and would be getting concerned if the momentum doesn't grow in the weeks ahead.”
Mr Parker says “in the majority of cases” the slow rate of deconstruction stems from issues between insurers and property owners.
"I haven't seen any evidence... that CERA are actually sitting on their hands,” he says.
“I actually think the issue is between the insurers and the owners, but it might be that in the months ahead action does need to be taken directly by CERA or even by the Government to resolve some of these problems.”
Mr Parker wants deconstruction to happen as quickly as possible so that Christchurch residents are able to enter the central city again, but says the process is “a very complex technical and legal situation”.
“From my selfish perspective as mayor,” he says, “I want the Grand Chancellor down. I want the other buildings that are holding up the ability for us to get people back into the city down… CERA I think are working their way through it pretty well, but we are all starting to become concerned about the overall duration it looks to be taking.”
He says alternative methods of destruction – like implosion – would speed up the process, but would have downsides, with the possibility of structurally sound buildings on neighbouring being demolished unnecessarily.
The city needs a deadline for deconstruction, Mr Parker says, so that residents can plan for their future.
“We do need to understand when we can get back into the city, and building owners and businesses who are waiting to get back to work really need to have some clarity so they can plan for their future.”
Watch the video for the full interview
3 News