By Adam Ray
For some earthquake survivors, the future of their homes and the land beneath them is a major concern.
Some people are already talking of walking away from their sections, in areas where the ground has slumped because of liquefaction.
One leading architect says it was scandalous to allow suburbs to be built on low-lying seaside areas in Christchurch.
Don Dalley’s house was wrecked by the earthquake and says it ruined the land under it as well. So he has to move away.
“It’s an idyllic place but it’s just not the same, people have been shocked and tended to get out,” he says.
His neighbour’s properties have also been hammered, like Mr Dalley many of them want to walk away.
Leading architect Sir Miles Warren says building homes in such low-lying seaside suburbs was a scandalous mistake.
“The tragedy is that, all those homeowners, all they’re left with is a large mortgage,” he says.
That’s because of the risk of liquefaction – when an earthquake turns sandy soils into sludge.
Although Christchurch’s quake risk is low, the liquefaction risk in eastern suburbs is high.
“Some owners are already blaming the council for allowing construction in these areas, but the city’s mayor says it’s not their fault.
“As council has resisted developing in some of those areas, we’ve been taken to the environment court and in cases the developers have been able to move into those areas,” says Bob Parker.
The Earthquake Commission says it will cover people whose land, as well as homes, are ruined.
It is already planning public meetings with residents in the worst affected areas.
3 News