Horizontal infrastructure review underway

Work has begun on an agreed review into the rebuild work and costs related to Christchurch’s earthquake-damaged horizontal infrastructure.

Experienced Auckland engineer Elena Trout has been tasked with assessing the engineering scope and costs, providing a basis for further discussions by the Crown and Christchurch City Council on the rebuild of infrastructure such as roads, underground pipes and bridges.

As a professional civil engineer and company director, Ms Trout has more than 35 years of experience in developing and leading major capital works and establishing business cases in areas including infrastructure.

In the Cost Sharing Agreement signed in 2013, the Crown committed $1.8 billion and the Council $1.14 billion to the horizontal infrastructure rebuild. The agreement specified a report on the rebuild work and costs be provided to the Crown and Council by December 1 this year, but the process of optimising infrastructure rebuild projects and finalising an appointment for the review has meant it will now be completed next month.

An alliance known as the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) was established to deliver the rebuild work, and is now 59 per cent of the way through its work programme.

CERA Deputy Chief Executive, Implementation, Warwick Isaacs says everyone’s understanding of the extent of the damage to the infrastructure network has improved over time as more work and investigation has been done.

“The review will give us a good updated picture of the work that needs to be done and what the costs are.

“We have already gone through a process of optimisation to ensure the money being spent to date is used most effectively to achieve a fully functioning infrastructure network.

“After receiving the reviewer’s report next month we will be well placed to consider any issues arising from it,” Mr Isaacs says.

Christchurch City Council Chief Executive Karleen Edwards says: “The independent review will provide a timely analysis of the state of Christchurch’s horizontal infrastructure as a result of the earthquakes and as assessment of the work that still needs to be done”.

“Although we accept that the framework requires us to provide solutions that are the most appropriate long term solutions, the people I talk to just want to know when their roads will be fixed to the right standard. This review should help provide clarity,” she says.

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