Port Hills fire transition from response to recovery

The Mayors of Christchurch and Selwyn have agreed to invoke a period of transition to recovery as outlined in the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act.

We, the Mayors of Christchurch and Selwyn, give notice that we have agreed to invoke a period of transition to recovery as outlined in the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.

We believe this to be in the public interest and desirable to ensure a timely and effective recovery.

The transition period is effective from when the state of local emergency expires at 6.00pm on Wednesday 1 March 2017 and is effective for 28 days, ending at 6.00pm on Wednesday 29 March 2017.

The decision to introduce a transition period under the Act is based in part on the following:

  • Rural fire estimates that firefighters may be on the fire ground for another 3-4 weeks managing the residual fire risk from the Port Hills fire.
  • Significant rainfall to reduce fire risk is likely some time away.
  • Residents in the affected areas that have suffered loss, or have been evacuated, are still feeling vulnerable.
  • Ongoing psychosocial and general welfare assistance will be required for impacted residents in Selwyn District and Christchurch City.
  • There will be an ongoing need for cordon/access management to keep “rubberneckers” out of impacted communities, and also to restrict public access to some recreational areas due to residual fire risk.
  • Heightened public information and media interest is likely for some time.

 Read the signed transition document [PDF, 549 KB]

 Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel and Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton

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