Finally, after many months of planning, we are excited to announce that the In the Know Hub is all set to be up and running on . . . (drum roll please) . . . Monday, April 20th at the Eastgate Shopping Centre.
The In the Know Hub is a community-led initiative supported by CERA, EQC and MBIE. A lot of goodwill and energy has gone into the development to ensure it is able to be responsive to the information and support needs of residents who are still making their way through the repair and rebuild process.
This earthquake has thrown up so much for us to contend with; policies, building codes, flood mitigation and a whole bunch of newly unearthed words, terms and acronyms like liquefaction, IFV, ILV, DOA, as new and jack and pack, just to pull out a few. We have had to come to grips with new people being in our lives; insurers, bankers, valuers, builders and engineers. Most of us have folders full of paper-work, a lot of it not easily understood. Many of us are ridiculously tired and quite a few of us need a little more help.
Well, In the Know Hub is the place to go to ask questions to help you progress through the residential repair and rebuild process, to understand, to meet the experts, to learn or just to talk to the friendly community hosts.
Brian from CanCERN is part of the hub management team and he’ll be making sure that what comes out of the hub meets the needs of those coming into it. Super community hosts Bob Henderson and Carmel Jagger are known to many of you already and if they can’t make you feel listened to, no one can. We will also have Earthquake Support Coordinators, Residential Advisory Service (RAS) staff and EQC Customer Contact Team staff on hand each day, as well as experts from various agencies. The place will be buzzing!
We’d also like to thank Canterbury Community Trust for their generous ‘Need Help Now’ grant which has enabled CanCERN to employ the hub’s community hosts. They’re investing in community-led recovery and we’re very grateful for that.
Here is a snapshot of what you can expect from the In the Know Hub:
Multiple agencies under one roof – meet with them face-to-face, access their information, be connected, and establish your next steps. Agencies at the Hub include:
- Residential Advisory Service (RAS)
- Canterbury Earthquake Temporary Accommodation Service and Earthquake Support Coordination Service
- EQC and geotechs
- Christchurch City Council
Things to note
- Not all agencies will be at the Hub every day. Soon we will have the website and 0800 number up and running so you will be able to see who is at the hub on each day.
- The hub will be open from April 20th to June 26th.
- Opening days and times are Monday to Wednesday, 9am – 6pm, and Thursday 9am – 8pm. It is closed Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.
- Private insurers won’t be sitting at the Hub on a daily basis but everything is in place to connect you back to the insurer when that’s the best next step. They will also be part of the seminar series.
Seminars
- Seminars on residential repair and rebuild related topics will be held at the hub each Thursday at 1pm-2pm, and 6pm to 7pm – beginning Thursday 30th April 2015.
- Seminars are a great opportunity to get expert information out there and resident questions answered. We will need to manage numbers so you will be asked to book a seat in advance. The seminars will be filmed as well so no one will miss out.
- You will be able to visit intheknow.org.nz for the list of seminar topics and presenters, but we can confirm that the first seminars off the rank will be about EQC’s Increased Flooding Vulnerability (IFV) and cash settlements.
So we are counting on you to help spread the word. The Hub is coming and it’s there to help.
Seismics and the City – videos
Seismics and the City was held a couple of weeks ago and featured presentations from a variety of key players in the recovery. Our very own Brian Parker spoke on behalf of CanCERN and his message, focusing on the importance of community engagement, was well received.
These presentations are all just wee snippets of different truths of many aspects of recovery. A great way to look at recovery through alternative eyes.
Click here for videos of all presentations. Below are a few of our favourites.
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Property boundaries update (media release)
Apologies that this is a little late, but we thought we’d better include it seeing as it’s a hot topic.
MEDIA RELEASE – Land Information NZ (LINZ)
20 March 2015
Sector leaders from across industry, government and professional bodies are working with LINZ to address property boundary issues facing property owners in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs.
The group’s focus is to give homeowners, surveyors, insurers, and regulators the certainty they need to continue rebuilding Christchurch.
We have brought this group together in recognition of the need to take a broader approach, which was reflected in feedback received from surveyors working in Christchurch.
We will work with these sector leaders to build a wider understanding of this issue. They will inform, test and help us find effective solutions for accurately locating property boundaries in Christchurch, including understanding the consequences of this.
We understand that we need to engage with a range of stakeholders, including property owners, and are committed to ensuring people have the opportunity to provide feedback on proposals before recommendations are finalised. The sector leaders group will help us ensure that we are engaging with the right people at the right time.
We and the sector leaders are committed to working collaboratively to develop a solution that takes into account all factors. This is a complex situation and no single group can determine the outcome for all.
Next steps:
In addition to the work we are doing with the sector leaders group on developing a longer term response, we are also focussed on developing practical measures to facilitate the conduct of surveys and the use of survey information.
We will continue to work closely with the Canterbury branch working group and other surveyors to support their work in Christchurch and develop a way forward, and the feedback will help to inform this.
We will continue to provide updated information on our website as we progress this work.
If you have any questions or feedback, please email: chchpropertyboundaries@linz.govt.nz (link sends e-mail)
Members of the sector leaders group are:
- Peter Mersi – Chief Executive, Land Information New Zealand
- Jeff Needham – President, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors
- Mark Allen – Board Member, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors
- Bryan Dunne – General Manager Strategy, Policy and Legal & General Manager Information Systems & Transformation, Earthquake Commission
- Tim Grafton – Chief Executive, Insurance Council New Zealand
- Hamish Douch – Representative, New Zealand Law Society
- Michael Theelen – Chief Planning Officer, Christchurch City Council
- David Griffiths – General Manager Residential Rebuild and Housing, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority
See more here.
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Long Term Plan – submissions and public meetings
This is a really important document to consider and a difficult conversation for the city to have at this time. The Council doesn’t have all the information they need to provide absolutes but this is what we have to work with currently. Be constructive in your feedback people – we need to put energy into workable and innovative solutions.
Below is a media release from last month about how you can have your say, and at the very bottom is a table with ‘where and when’ for all of the public meetings regarding the LTP.
MEDIA RELEASE – March 17
Christchurch City Council today launched a six week campaign to get public feedback on its Long Term Plan.
Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck says it is vital that residents take the opportunity to have a say over the future of the city during the public consultation period which ends at midday on Tuesday, 28 April.
“This is potentially Christchurch’s most important budget ever. The Long Term Plan consultation document includes a proposal to sell $750 million worth of our commercial assets to help cover a $1.2 billion funding shortfall and we need to know whether we have residents’ backing to take this step.
“The Plan also includes a major shift to cycling and public transport, as well as changes to the Central City and a lot of new and replacement community facilities. We want to know if what’s proposed is right for you, your family and your neighbourhood.
“We’ve tried to make it really easy to make a submission so you can do it online, or put pen to paper. We’re holding public meetings across the city over the coming weeks so residents can talk through the issues with elected members, and we’ll welcome tweets or discussion via comments on the Council’s Facebook page.”
The Council is also running “Mayor in the Chair” sessions where members of the public can sit in the Mayor’s chair in the Council Chamber and talk to Councillors about the Long Term Plan.
Deputy Mayor Buck says the “Mayor in the Chair” sessions will run from midday until 2pm on Wednesday, 25 March, Friday, 27 March and Wednesday, 1 April.
“It’ll be very relaxed, there’s no need to book, and councillors will be come along to hear what you have to say during your turn in the ‘hot seat.’ “
How to have your say on the Long Term Plan 2015-25
- go online at www.ccc.govt.nz/LTP to make a submission
- present a petition in support of a submission
- fill out submission forms available from Council libraries and service centres, or by phoning 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 169
- speak to elected members at community meetings or during “Mayor in the Chair” sessions
- share your views on the Christchurch City Council Facebook page which will regularly introduce new LTP topics for discussion
- tweet with #CCCLTP
Comments made on Facebook, Twitter, at community meetings and during “Mayor in the Chair” will be included in the feedback presented to the Council, but they will not be treated as formal submissions.
Councillors will consider all the submissions and comments before they adopt the Plan in June 2015.
You can also attend a Long Term Plan meeting in your area to speak with Elected Members and staff (please note meetings in some wards have already taken place).
| Where | Date | Time |
| Lyttelton Top Club, 23 Dublin Street, Lyttelton | Monday 30th March | 6.00 – 7.30pm |
| Papanui RSA, Bellvue Avenue, Papanui | Tuesday 31st March | 6.00 – 7.30pm |
| St John’s Church, Cnr St Johns Street and Ferry Road, Woolston | Thursday 9th April | 6.00 – 7.30pm |
| St Andrew’s Community Church, 85 Marine Drive, Diamond Harbour | Monday 13th April | 7.00 – 8.30pm |
| North New Brighton War Memorial Hall, Marine Parade, New Brighton | Tuesday 14th April | 6.00 – 7.30pm |
| Upper Riccarton Library, 71 Main South Road, Riccarton | Wednesday 15th April | 5.30 – 7.00pm |
| Beckenham Service Centre, Sydenham Room, 66 Colombo Street, Beckenham | Thursday 16 April | 6.00 – 7.30pm |
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Flockton flooding update
Here’s the latest update from the city council regarding the Dudley Creek bypass options and the Tay Street pump station.
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Temporary accommodation open homes
Throughout April and May the Canterbury Earthquakes Temporary Accommodation Service (CETAS) will hold a weekly open home at one of the four government supported temporary accommodation villages. This is an opportunity for those who may need temporary accommodation now or in the near future to check them out and talk with CETAS staff about the service.
Details for this week’s open home are:
And here are the details for future open homes.
| KAIAPOI village | 16 APRIL 15 |
| RANGERS PARK | 23 APRIL 15 |
| LINWOOD village | 30 APRIL 15 |
| RANGERS PARK | 07 MAY 15 |
| KAIAPOI village | 14 MAY 15 |
| RAWHITI village | 21 MAY 15 |
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Community Service Awards – nominate someone!
Nominations for this year’s Community Service Awards need to be in by 5pm on Friday, April 10th.
The awards, run by the Christchurch City Council, recognise individuals and groups who volunteer for the benefit of their community.
If you want to send in a nomination, it can be handed in at any Council Service Centre. If posted, it needs to be sent in plenty of time to be received by Friday at 5pm.
For more information and to access the guidelines and nomination forms, click here.
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