Capture: Two Tales of a City
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Hebe,
Hope all Chchites are unflooded -- though it may have been Isabelle on Campbell Live? It was surreal going out my front door and seeing a rescue boat trying to start its engine 50m away. The situation went remarkably fast from heavy rain and a spilling river to reaching two properties over from here. I feel fortunate that we came out with a sodden (and probably buggered vege garden) and a flooded garage. It was nerve-wracking watching the rain sheet down for 26 hours non-stop, the wreck next door's roof wavering in the massive wind gusts and the roaring evil brown Heathcote River ruthlessly rising .
The flood issues are huge: and with many curly consequences. I have worked on and off on that story since mid 2012 since I tripped over it. Finally Lianne Dalziel, Vicki Buck and Raf Manji are able to show people why it all needs to be taken seriously. See the Press editorial today, which starts to outline the issues. Campbell is apparently covering it tonight.
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I hadn't heard about the "Flockton Basin' effect until I drove through it at 5.30am yesterday morning heading out to the airport - Aylesford st was the deepest water I've ever driven through in a saloon car - I think we were very lucky to get through. Scary stuff.
Ringroads on way back were not so bad apart from the paddling pool at every roundabout and the swamping wakes of trucks...Dudley creek is so silted for much of its length, its bed was almost at bank level in many places - this was always gonna happen...
Sun's out today, phew....
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Emma Hart, in reply to
though it may have been Isabelle on Campbell Live?
It was. First part here, second part here.
The Flockton Basin is insanity. It seems so clear the land should have been red-zoned - it dropped up to 50cm in the quakes. Dredging Dudley Creek is not going to solve the problem.
It's been heartening to see so many non-Chch people so angry after watching that Campbell Live piece. It would be even nicer if it meant something changed.
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JacksonP, in reply to
It would be even nicer if it meant something changed.
This. How much evidence does this bloody government need? I'm aware of how little my anger can achieve on behalf of those in the midst of it all, but goddamn it's making me arms flailingly mad.
Arohanui. Again. Infinity.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
The age of Aquarius…
Dredging Dudley Creek is not going to solve the problem.
It would help stop it rising so fast,
but you’re right…Listening to Brownlee on National Radio this morning, swearing black and blue that because he had been told something, it was unassailably true and other facts are inconvenient distractions or politicking….
Much swearing ensued here.
Sadly no great epiphany after his apology then…I think we have gone beyond the end of our tethers,
only to find no way back, the Government has sold them as old rope… -
Hebe,
Flockton Basin is the worst of it. Other parts (like mine) are a problem too. John McCrone puts it clearly:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/your-weather/9795267/Flood-shows-hard-calls-must-be-madeAdd to that the repair/rebuild strategies done by EQR (Fletchers). already and there are thousands in the city potentially staring down a barrel of poo. Basically if you are a rebuild, you're rebuilt to whatever height the District Plan says about floor levels. Fine as long as you are not rebuilt, or started to be rebuilt, before the new plan is ratified.
And the big appallingness: if your foundations need repair (like most of us), the house will not be raised even if it is in the flood zone -FMA- (forthcoming hugely expanded one or present comparatively tiny one). That would be "betterment". But the earthquake has lowered the land, putting you in a flood zone? Tough. EQR doesn't want to know. EQC doesn't want to know.
Usually if more than 20 per cent of foundations are to be fixed, a council consent is needed. But it has been deemed okay for EQR to be able to do repairs around that level without a consent. If the homeowner presses the case, a consent may be applied for. But the consent, surely, would mean raising the house to current floor levels? Wouldn't it?
Having said that, 55,000 houses have already been repaired by EQR, ll over the city. EQR will wind up next year: who then has liability for the repairs that have already been done being up to standard?
And this is only what I've found out with no professional advice -- yet. Clarifications gratefully received.
Time to bake for the cleaner-uppers down the road. Cheers.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
who then has liability for the repairs that have already been done being up to standard?
Gerry Brownlee at Scoop says help is there
While meantime PM goes to Granny and says Hang in thereIn front of the TV cameras and photographers, he pitched in to help with a mop in the chemist.
Smile and wave, smile and wave..... .
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
It’s been heartening to see so many non-Chch people so angry after watching that Campbell Live piece. It would be even nicer if it meant something changed.
I noticed in that clip that the British guy said the evidence was out there that John Campbell couldn't verify. John also quickly responded that they would talk. Hope that reveals more tonight.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
Time to bake for the cleaner-uppers down the road.
Chchch is still the homebake capital then!
:- ) -
Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
:- )
:)
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
Chchch is still the homebake capital then!:- )
Still, had morphine for the last few days up here. Live and well in our Hospitals up this way.Trouble is pathetic paracetamol when you exit. What's that about eh? ;)
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Hebe,
A couple of quick pix from yesterday a few houses down from us. I wandered out, looked at the water, thought "Hmmm, not too hot." Then saw the Red Cross boat and emergency services and the reality hit home. We were lucky: garage flooded and vege garden swamped (the back of the section is lower than the house area, but our flood was clean clear rainwater. The riverbanks are a-stinking' now. Fortunately the flood just stayed out of these houses, though garages and a home business were swamped with murk.
Oh and some birthday dudes: 16 today: gats all round. -
Hebe, in reply to
Chchch is still the homebake capital then!
:- )Baking Volunteer Army motto: we will fight them on the benches.
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Kyle Matthews, in reply to
Hi all,
Gudrun Gisela, who frequently posted in the capture pages up until 2012, passed away yesterday. Her facebook page is here with a posting from her son:
https://www.facebook.com/gudrun.gisela?fref=ts
Cheers,
Kyle -
Chris Waugh, in reply to
Thanks for the alert, Kyle. That's very sad news. Gudrun's photography completely changed my view of Christchurch, opened my eyes to sides of the city I had been completely unaware of.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
As I noted on Twitter after hearing the sad news this morning, this thread – more than 1600 comments over two years – is a testament to the importance of her images.
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So sorry to hear this news. As I said on Twitter, this blog and the amazing stories that unfolded in the comments, were a very proud moment as facilitator of Capture. I wish her family all the best, and appreciate you alerting us Kyle. RIP Gudrun.
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Joe Wylie, in reply to
RIP Gudrun.
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A few more...
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Last...
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Hebe,
For Gudrun, last evening’s sky painting.
I’m very sad. I have read the first 34 pages of this thread, and it has reinforced to me that Gudrun and the rest of you have been a huge and positive part of my earthquake journey. Four years ago my world was so different, as was everyone’s, and the changes have been so unexpected and so large that I am having difficulty coming to terms with it all.One of the best things has been my reawakened interest and practise of photography, much due to Gudrun’s generous and enthusiastic encouragement. I will miss her fierceness, kindness and windows into her world.
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Sad news.
Gudrun was good people! -
Joe Wylie, in reply to
One of the best things has been my reawakened interest and practise of photography, much due to Gudrun’s generous and enthusiastic encouragement. I will miss her fierceness, kindness and windows into her world.
In the early 90s Gudrun beat a particularly nasty form of cancer, after being given a 5% chance of survival. When it returned with an inoperable vengeance early this year she was given 12 months at the outside. Her final slipping away was sudden and mercifully gentle.
Towards the end she wondered if she'd have left a more substantial photographic legacy if only she'd taken herself more seriously. Being the warm-hearted soul she was she'd have been deeply touched by the kind words here.
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So sorry to hear about Gudrun, I spent a lot of time looking at her pictures on this and other posts. Pictures always say more than words can.... I'll second Hebe's picture-tribute above - those clouds seem soft and warm as Joe says Gudrun's heart was.
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