Green rebuild would lessen Christchurch flood risk
The Green Party is calling on the Government to investigate the option of offering to purchase the houses of
Christchurch residents affected by persistent flooding, and is saying it would require planning for climate change to be
included in the rebuild.
Unlike the red zone package, the Green Party is suggesting a flood package would be voluntary, but would give the
hundreds of flood prone Christchurch residents the choice of moving to higher ground.
“Some homes have been repeatedly flooded since the earthquakes but residents have nowhere to go. No one should have to
live with the constant threat of flooding,” said Green Party Christchurch spokesperson Eugenie Sage.
“The Government could offer to purchase the properties that have been repeatedly flooded and are situated in areas prone
to further flooding following the quakes, so that home owners can get on with their lives.
“A combination of more extreme weather events, like Tuesday’s storm, and post-quake changes to the land and rivers make
some areas of Christchurch much more prone to flooding.
“We need to offer affected residents a more durable solution than extra sandbags,” said Ms Sage.
The Green Party is also calling for a National Environmental Standard or National Policy Statement on climate change
adaptation that would require councils to make plans for climate change in their area.
“The Government and CERA are letting down Cantabrians by failing to take into account more extreme weather events into
their plans to rebuild Christchurch.
“Local authorities, including CERA and the city and regional council, need a clear mandate and some base parameters to
plan for more frequent and more extreme weather events, and for rising sea levels.
“We need to take steps now to help out those affected by the floods, and set in place rebuild plans to avoid these
events in the future.”
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