Lianne DALZIEL

Earthquake Recovery Spokesperson

24 December 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT

Parklands could be renamed Riverlands

The Christchurch suburb of Parklands needs urgent help, Labour’s Earthquake Recovery spokesperson and Christchurch East MP, Lianne Dalziel, says.

“I visited this morning. The sight was absolutely heart-breaking.

“The devastation the liquefaction has produced in Parklands - which has been green- zoned - is worse than it is in Bexley which is red-zoned.

“It is clear that the government is going to have to re-visit the land zoning decisions in these areas.

“There is even more flooding and silt than there was following the June earthquake,” Lianne Dalziel said.

“People had rivers of silt running through their properties yesterday, while the underground infrastructure has taken such a hammering most are also without water and sewerage.

“The council teams are working hard to get things up and running, but residents are still facing real challenges.

“Several people I spoke to this morning were due to head away today for the holidays. That’s not going to happen now. Instead they will spend Christmas Day and the days after shovelling thick sand from their properties.

“It has just been one thing after another for them. Many are at the end of their tether. I am sure they would be grateful for any little bit of help – even if it is a couple of hours shovelling.

“I know it would go some small way to making Christmas just that little bit happier and help those that want to get away,” Lianne Dalziel said.

ENDS

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