By Duncan Garner
3 News has advance information from Prime Minister John Key about tomorrow’s announcement in Christchurch regarding quake-damaged suburbs.
Mr Key will make the official announcement tomorrow but released early details this afternoon.
Residents in Christchurch’s worst-hit suburbs will be told they can leave their homes tomorrow and the Government will pay them out.
“For those in the worst affected areas tomorrow we will give you more
The Government will formally name the worst hit suburbs as:
- Bexley
- Avondale
- Horseshoe Lake
- Burwood
- Dallington
- Avonside
3 News understands 90 percent of the houses in Bexley will be demolished.
The Prime Minister was confident he could give those in the worst affected areas clarity, but some tomorrow may have to wait further for a decision.
“We can't give everyone clarity because the June 13 earthquake moved land in other areas and we need to go and do more work," he says.
Those people covered by tomorrow’s announcement will be offered the choice to stay or leave their home.
The Government will pay out those who wish to leave to the value of their house just before the September earthquake.
Residents will have nine months to make a decision.
“They need to be able make decisions and tomorrow thay can make some sense of that,” says Mr Key.
3 News understands 5000 homes are covered by tomorrow's announcement.
And the payouts will cost the Government hundreds of millions of dollars up front - insurance companies and EQC will then pay the Government directly.
“It's been very complex, we were in a position where we either left homeowners individually to deal with insurance or whether we were in a position to get them a better deal," says Mr Key.
Due to the June 13 earthquake the Government has had to change tomorrow's announcement and more work now has to be done investigating land damage in other areas of Christchurch.
But help is coming – the decision has taken time and not everyone will be happy.
But tomorrow brings the first real step towards certainty for thousands of Christchurch residents.
3 News