Quake residential repair programme on hold

Louise Deans, the lady of the Home Bush homestead, surveys damage to the historic property after last September's earthquake. Photo / Greg Bowker

Fletcher Construction says its residential repair programme in Canterbury as agent for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) is temporarily on hold while resources are directed to emergency response following yesterday's devastating quake.

The company, a subsidiary of Fletcher Building, was chosen in mid-October to run the commission's management office, requiring it to manage the repair of about 50,000 properties moderately or seriously damaged in the initial early September quake.

Today, Fletcher said it and the EQC were working to identify urgent requirements for repairs to ensure buildings were safe, secure, sanitary and weathertight after yesterday's earthquake. No other work on homes could be undertaken now.

Coordinated through hub offices established in suburban locations in recent months, Fletcher was acting on claims information provided by EQC, which was taking urgent claims and related information on the established 0800 DAMAGE line, the company said.

"The company is marshalling additional internal resources, including engineers, supervisors and other staff who have not been involved in the residential repair programme, who can be made available to assist with the response to yesterday's earthquake, at the direction of established civil authorities."

The command centre for the Fletcher repair programme, in Deans Ave, Christchurch, was damaged significantly in the earthquake. The building was being assessed for re-occupation which would hopefully happen today. Most of the hub network had not been disabled.

It was vital to the recovery process that homeowners use established EQC channels for any communication relevant to existing claims. Any communication on claims or related information must be through 0800 DAMAGE.

- NZPA