Hon Gerry Brownlee
Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
13 September 2012Media Statement
Port Hills rock roll zoning complete
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says all 37 remaining residential Port Hills properties at risk
from rock roll have now been zoned red and eligible owners will receive a residential red zone offer from the Crown.
The properties, in the Horotane Valley and on Bridle Path Road, are the last of the previously white zoned properties at
risk from rock roll or cliff collapse to be zoned in the Port Hills.
Eight properties in Lucas Lane at risk from landslip are still zoned white and on schedule for an October decision on
their final zoning while further assessments are carried out.
All property owners affected by today’s announcement were individually informed of the decisions by the Canterbury
Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) this evening.
Mr Brownlee says he appreciates waiting so long for a decision has been an extremely difficult time for the residents.
“We delayed making a decision on these properties in August as we wanted to explore every avenue possible for these
properties.
“Over recent weeks experts have carried out a final detailed assessment to see if the 37 properties could be protected
by mitigation.
“After consideration of a range of factors including feasibility, complexities around land ownership, cost-effectiveness
and timeliness, we have concluded it is not practicable to implement major area-wide mitigation,” Mr Brownlee says.
The Government is making an offer to purchase insured residential properties, insured residential properties with
dwellings under construction and insured non-residential properties owned by not for profit organisations in the red
zone to allow homeowners to plan for their future.
A final decision has not yet been made on vacant, uninsured, or commercial properties in the Port Hills.
As with the zoning of residential properties on the flat land, CERA will also be announcing a review process for Port
Hills’ residents seeking a review of their zoning decision. An announcement of the review process will be made very
soon.
To assist property owners in considering their options, GNS Science information relating to risk modelling will be
released soon.