Home owners should contact Council if they have been missed

Waimakariri district home-owners should contact the Council if they have safety issues in their homes or feel they have been missed in the initial safety assessments of homes. People who have left the district because their home is uninhabitable should also contact the Council.

“The focus over the past week has been on the areas in Kaiapoi, Pines Beach and Kairaki badly affected by liquefaction during the September 4 earthquake,” said Waimakariri Civil Defence Controller Nick Harrison.

Teams of building assessors have been working over the weekend to revisit homes marked with a red (unsafe for habitation) or a yellow notice (safe to live in but with identified issues). By Tuesday evening all homes initially assessed as ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ should have been reassessed.

“If you are in a house that has a red or yellow notice and you have not been revisited by 5pm Tuesday give the Council a call. Any homes found to be unsafe will be marked with a red notice and cordoned off.

“If your home has not been assessed and you feel there are safety issues with your home also give the Council a call and a team will visit as soon as possible.”

The Council assessments are to ensure the safety and health of people living in the district. They are not a full structural review and home-owners should contact their insurer and the Earthquake Commission if they have structural damage to their property.

“All official assessors will carry identification after reports people posing as bogus assessors may be active in Kaiapoi, Pines Beach or Kairaki.

“Residents who see anyone without official identification and acting suspiciously – particularly around unoccupied homes – should call the police,” said Nick Harrison.

Nearly 400 homes in Kaiapoi, Pines Beach and Kairaki have been significantly impacted including 116 that are unsafe for people to live in.

The Council customer service number is 03 311-8900 or Kaiapoi toll free 327-6834