Quake victims still suffering

The Christchurch suburb of Bexley was flooded by liquifaction following the earthquake, and three months later, residents are still having trouble with the necessities of life. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Three months after the February 22 earthquake devastated Christchurch and nothing much has changed for some residents in the eastern suburbs of the city.

When Prime Minister John Key visited the suburb of Bexley 10 days after the quake, Waitaki Street resident Tracey Bolton's biggest criticism was the lack of portaloos in the eastern suburbs.

Today, Mrs Bolton says not a lot has changed.

"We still haven't got any sewer," she says.

"We are still using a chemical toilet, but we're over it. Absolutely over having to go empty it all the time. The closest portaloo to our place is probably 20 metres down the road. And the same with the container that you empty the chemical toilet as well.

She says the family chemical toilet needs to be emptied every second day.

"The trouble is we still don't want to leave the house. Obviously Bexley has been aimed at by the looters. We did think of ringing our insurance company to see if we could go for temporary accommodation but we didn't want to use it up. Our land is so munted we don't want to use our temporary accommodation up because we will need it down the track."

Mrs Bolton lives with her husband and three kids, aged four, nine and 12. Her biggest concern is her nine-year-old daughter, who has type-1 diabetes, getting sick.

"We can't really use portaloos around the community because I can't risk her getting any infections. She was in hospital last week with really bad tummy pains and a virus. That's not a good start, considering winter has not kicked in yet.

"We are still not drinking the water - I know that they have cleared it but with what is going on with the sewer and everything else we are not happy to drink the water. Especially with my daughter, it is not worth it.

Mrs Bolton says the Earthquake Commission had seen them more quickly than after the September 4 quake, but were not as thorough.

"We still haven't had any joy with our contents claim that we've put in. We still haven't got any carpet and it is getting cold now. It would be good to get that sorted.

"We haven't heard from anyone about what is happening with the land."

Mrs Bolton says her family and others in the neighbourhood are struggling to get by.

"I think is about time Red Cross sent another grant out for people like us, because we are still buying water, we are still lugging our sewage into the containers. I've heard they've still got a bit of money, so it would be good to get a bit of a helping hand. Certainly with buying water it gets very expensive.

"I think it is about time that people who can't use showers and toilets and stuff were given something. I don't mean to be greedy - but we're just over it."

In nearby Kia Ora Street, the Hill's family home has been abandoned.
The family is living with a friend in Burwood.

"Our house has sunk a fair bit and it floods every time it rains, because we're a bit lower than the street," Steve Hill says.

"Luckily a friend of ours has a five-bedroom house that he was living in by himself, so we've headed off over there."

When the family will be able to return is unknown.

Mr Hill said his insurance company AMI, and EQC, had been good and the council "are most likely doing everything they can at the moment".

"Perhaps they could have kept us better informed - but there is no point giving us tidbits of information we already know. We've had meetings up to our eyeballs."

In the days following the quake, Kia Ora St resembled a river more than a road. Mr Hill said this problem had been fixed.

"I think I have matured in my attitude to what has got to happen having seen how the carnage has spread.

"Being a plumber, and having been across the city - it is bigger than people realise."

Mr Hill said the future of the eastern suburbs depended on whether land could be used in the future.

"Because if there is going to be no one living there, there is no point redoing sewer and water mains," he said.

"Get the land sorted out, give people the answers and then you'd have to give us a month to decide, because you can't make the decision there and then. If you can't rebuild - where do you go?

"There's nothing official - but there are places they will not be building again. A plumber can tell you that. I think Wetlands Grove ... I can't see them building there. It is too risky."

One of Mr Hill's biggest concerns is how much money he will receive for his land should it be deemed unsafe to rebuild on.

"The biggest worry is are we going to be out of pocket if we lose the land? Are we going to have to loan more money on a mortgage to buy another piece of land somewhere?"

Regardless, Mr Hill is keen to stay in eastern Christchurch.

"I am eastern suburbs. I hope we can rebuild.

"We're close to the beach. Some people say 'aren't you worried about tsunami and more earthquakes?'" he says.

"I'm not going to live my life in fear of tsunami and earthquakes."