Council to consider rockfall protection work on a case-by-case basis

Councillors voted unanimously today that Council would consider funding rock protection work proposed by individual red zone property owners a case-by-case basis.

Any proposed rock protection work must comply with the approved Technical Guideline and Design Approach for Rockfall Protection Works.  Landowners would have to agree to the approved Maintenance Regime for the rockfall protection works constructed to protect private houses on private land.

Mayor Bob Parker says the decision enables Council to consider on a case-by-case basis the feasibility of proposed rock protection works.

“However it will be up to the individual property owner to weigh up whether they want to go through the process and accept the additional liability. This will not be an easy process and we urge property owners to consider this very carefully.” he says.

Council would consider the rock protection work on Council land or private land. However, on Council owned land, the works must not prevent the use of the Council land for its intended public purpose or detract from the amenity values for the area.

Council agreed with the Crown earlier this year to pay half the costs of buying out homes that have been red-zoned because of the rockfall risk.

The decision enables Council to consider contributing up to 50 percent of the value of the red zone offer (2007 Capital Value) to the cost of approved consented protection works on private property. The individual property owner will design, construct, maintain and replace and own the protection work at their cost.
Where the protection works are to be considered are on Council land, the Council will construct, maintain and replace and own the protection work at their cost, providing the total cost to Council over the life of the project is less than 50 percent of the red zone offer (2007 Capital Value) for that particular property.

Councillors also agreed to discuss with the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) the possibility of CERA contributing their share of the red zone offer on a similar basis.