Strong interest in govt quake offer

Tracy Carlyle and her red-zoned house on Kia Ora Street, Bexley, Christchurch. Photo / Mark Mitchell

More than 2,800 homeowners in the Christchurch residential red zone have shown interest in taking up the Government's offer to purchase their condemned homes.

On 23 June the government announced that around 5000 properties were in the residential red zone because their land was unlikely to be suitable for residential occupation for a considerable period of time.

The Government offered residents the option of taking a government offer to buy their property with a takeover of either the homeowner's insurance or Earthquake Commission claims, or the option of taking the EQC land claim only and dealing with their insurer about their homes.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said 2824 homeowners had returned consent forms by July 31, giving their authorisation for the Earthquake Commission and their insurance company to share information with CERA.

This will allow CERA to develop the offer letters, Mr Brownlee said.

"At the time of the announcement the Government committed to writing to those homeowners with insurance in the residential red zone with an offer by mid-August. We are on track to meet that timeframe for those people who returned their consent forms on time.

"Homeowners can take longer to return their consent forms if they wish to seek advice, but they should bear in mind that will impact on when they receive their letter of offer.

Mr Brownlee said the next priority has been working to reclassify the around 10,500 properties in the orange zone to either green or red.

"Our first focus is on the orange zone areas of Waimakariri. We hope to be able to make some announcements around the orange zones in Waimakariri within the next three to four weeks."