Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Christchurch: Square Two

207 Responses

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  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    You have a pool? Looxury!

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Gregor Ronald, in reply to Russell Brown,

    We in Christchurch reserve the right to say the same when a new volcano pops up in East Tamaki; why on earth live among all those volcanoes? It's easy to be right when you don't know much.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 103 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Reid, in reply to Hebe,

    Ventilation is not an issue for most munted houses; we have plenty of gaps to air out dampness. But better to be warm and damp for a few weeks than cold and damp.
    I imagine there will be explicit instructions on use of the heaters.

    I don't think we can rely on the ventilation from houses being munted - will every bedroom be well ventilated? Even if there there are instructions, will they always be followed? Perhaps money towards a safe heating source (knowing that the Red Cross has a grant to pay for electricity for the old and young in damaged houses) or money towards a different place to live?

    Other solutions may well be more complex. However, simple but potentially dangerous solutions are not what is needed.

    South Africa • Since Nov 2006 • 80 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew, in reply to Emma Hart,

    So yes, it'd be a "slush fund" alright.

    Oh, that would be a slosh fund then ;-)

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew, in reply to Jolisa,

    Around here we were wondering what happens to the balloon-dinosaur when it bumps into the giant, invisible, Spiny Norman.

    Around here, we're not worried, we know Dinsdale's on the other side of the river from us :-)

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Crowley,

    This whole thing feels like a great big game of Snakes and Ladders where you alway's seem to land on another bloody snake.
    I did manage a laugh the other day though.Whilst going through my old VHS tapes & DVD's I found this gem. There is a much younger Russell Brown 1/3 of the way into this.
    Acid House

    Otautahi • Since Nov 2008 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jeremy Crowley,

    There is a much younger Russell Brown 1/3 of the way into this.

    I sound like a girl.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Jeremy Andrew,

    So yes, it'd be a "slush fund" alright.

    Oh, that would be a slosh fund then ;-)

    A lush fund in fact.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I sound like a girl

    The cig tar had not yet hardened the vocal cords Russ.

    Edit: Beard is still there and the rising eyebrows.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Jeremy Crowley,

    a much younger Russell Brown

    Classic. And Chris seems much the same..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Russell Brown,

    There is a much younger Russell Brown 1/3 of the way into this.

    I sound like a girl.

    Compared to Mark T, well yeah, suppose you might. Are you rocking the Che T-shirt?

    Sorry, but I LOLled watching that. Mainly because I was probably dancing there somewhere. Koa from Wellington too. What a nostalgia trip.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood, in reply to Ross Mason,

    But how many times need this occur? It looks like there will be a few decades of these bloody things banging away. How much and how many times need you truck in fill to raise your plot of land to keep your arse out of the shit? Who the f%^k pays for this? Think New Orleans.Over a couple of centuries and it is below the Mississippi. In less than 100 years global warming sea rise has a good chance of flooding those liquified places. Maybe it might, just might, be useful to think about moving.

    I certainly accept that *some* areas will be uneconomic to rebuild -- but you have to be very careful about kicking people holus-bolus off their land.

    For a start, the earthquake commission will only pay out on the first 450 m^2 of land -- so you're asking most people around here to part with at least $50,000 of their own personal money when you kick them off. And that certainly isn't loose change as far as I'm concerned.

    And then there's the significant cost to the EQC and the insurance companies (which everyone will pay for eventually). You have to look very very carefully at the economics.

    Don't forget that Cathedral Square is only 7 metres above sea level. I see that some people are agitating for everyone below 5 metres altitude to be removed -- that could easily be 50 thousand people. By my estimation this would cost the EQC $8.75 billion for the land alone; and then the EQC & private insurance a further $12.5 billion to compensate for the houses.

    I suggest that you could build a pretty good tsunami wall around Christchurch for $21.25 billion (and still have a lot of change left over).

    Also I'd note that not all areas are sinking. We're at 5 metres altitude and we've had no ejecta in our vicinity -- and any compaction will soon reach a finite limit. Furthermore, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that any future earthquakes might generate some upthrust...

    It's complicated.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Tamsin6, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Pop quiz. Is this:

    Key said the Government had a "clear picture" of what land would have to be abandoned but refused to name these areas or put a timeline on when the information would be available to the public.

    more "10 000 homes will have to go, a number which I just pulled out of my arse", or actual... I don't know what to call that. Idiocy?

    Or something like 'We are waiting for the insurance/reinsurance industry to make all our decisions for us, and are just pretending to know secret stuff until they tell us what to think'?

    London • Since Dec 2007 • 133 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Tamsin6,

    Depressingly astute, methinks

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    A lush fund...

    I prefer the the term 'liquid faction', but fear it is too soon for such associations, in both senses.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to recordari,

    'liquid faction'

    bravo

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Tamsin6,

    Or something like 'We are waiting for the insurance/reinsurance industry to make all our decisions for us, and are just pretending to know secret stuff until they tell us what to think'?

    If people whinge about bureaucracy gone mad, they probably haven't had to deal with an insurance co. I'm speaking from experience - I personally dealt with them in a couple of cases where client's PC's got zapped by lightning, and fun & games was putting it mildly.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    It IS complicated. Maybe an option to consider is "we" - the Govt - decide to buy up the land to a bigger section size to compensate the limit of $50,000 for land, negotiate with EQC and the insurance companies and come up with a moving and rebuilding package for those who are in the "gotta get outta town" parts. Why not move the historic homes (survived and recoverable ones) out as well?

    I can imagine the shenanigans around building a freaking-out Tsunami wall.....where would it go? How high? How far up the estuary? Heathcote? Avon? Brighton?

    And back to sea level rising. Afterall, it is likely to happen in the equivalent lifetime of an old Avon-side house. A 100 years is not very long.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ross Mason,

    negotiate with EQC and the insurance companies

    Isn't that what's happening right now?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to recordari,

    Liquid faction -- yes yes

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    No, they are bitching over the small print about who pays when......

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/rebuilding-christchurch/5141355/Questions-over-quake-insurance-cover

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ross Mason,

    If this indeed the world's largest insurance payout as recently suggested (linked somewhere here), then it's bound to be a huge negotiation.

    Not that I'm defending those in charge lacking the basic nous and decency to avoid blurting until they have something to say. Or any delays at all in that process (not that we have any way of knowing). Or whether there were alternatives to court action for a government of less laissez-faire disposition.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Crowley, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I am glad you appreciated it. Hoped you wouldn't be too embarrassed.

    Otautahi • Since Nov 2008 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Kris V,

    Square Two... indeed, it's deja vu all over again.

    I'd just like to say that I don't feel stoic, nor resilient, nor heroic nor any of those other words that are being thrown about, mostly by people who don't live here but want to emote about the tremendous heart of the plucky souls who have the misfortune to live here. Ptooey.

    We're just trying to get by. Shit happens and you deal with it - that's been a longstanding family motto and has never been truer. Our other family motto is 'this too shall pass'... I guess you could say life has never been a bed of roses and these past 9 months have been no different in that regard. Different shit, different times, different world, and yet oh so familiar.

    In just over 2 weeks I get a break from Shakeytown - up to Akld for Xlan then to Hamilton for ANZCA. I don't even care that for 8 of the 10 days I'm effectively working, I'm so looking forward to a change of scene that even an academic conference sounds like fun... in fact anywhere but here seems bloody marvellous right now.

    Shakeytown • Since Nov 2008 • 61 posts Report Reply

  • Susannah Shepherd, in reply to David Haywood,

    Also I’d note that not all areas are sinking. We’re at 5 metres altitude and we’ve had no ejecta in our vicinity – and any compaction will soon reach a finite limit. Furthermore, it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that any future earthquakes might generate some upthrust…

    It’s complicated.

    Speaking from a position of complete ignorance, I can imagine why the government might not want to be making some pretty final and significant decisions about whether land/suburbs can be remediated until the risk of further major aftershocks has diminished.

    That doesn't reduce the cruelty of politicians dropping hints along the way.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2008 • 58 posts Report Reply

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