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The Government has announced details of legislation to be pushed through Parliament to help speed up the recovery process in quake-devastated Canterbury.
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill would allow orders in council to go directly to the council, without first being approved by Cabinet.
"These orders in council will authorise amendments, suspension, or exemptions of the relevant legislation to enable the recovery and repair of damage caused by the Canterbury earthquake to progress in a timely manner."
Put simply, the bill, to be introduced tomorrow, will exempt or relax legislation as it applies to the emergency and recovery response.
"For example, sewage pipes that are cracked may be able to be diverted to ensure water supply remains safe and local councils aren't liable for prosecution. If a heritage building needs strengthening urgently rather than waiting for resource consents and approvals, the work could start immediately and consents would be granted retrospectively."
Mr Brownlee said the legislation would expire no later than April 1, 2012.
"It also creates a commission that includes the mayors of the three worst-hit districts - Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission will link decision makers on the ground in Canterbury directly with government ministers."
Hotels slash room rates
The Government's announcement came after several Christchurch hotels decided to slash room rates in the wake of Christchurch's "horrendous" magnitude 7.1 earthquake.
Camelot Cathedral Square Hotel director Manav Soni told NZPA it was offering rooms from $59 a night, usually available for $150.
It had also allocated 10 rooms for people whose homes had been damaged and needed somewhere to stay for free.
Mr Soni said everybody needed to "chip in".
The hotel had only suffered "cosmetic damage" but the financial impact would be significant.
"We lost $10,000 straight away and the next week was an absolute disaster. This month we'll be down just over $100,000," he said.
He estimated the hotel would lose about $250,000 by the end of the year.
International visitors had seen media coverage of the quake and been put off visiting Christchurch, he said.
The September 4 earthquake had been "horrendous" and he had never felt anything like it, he added.
All Seasons Hotel, on Papanui Road, is advertising rooms from $70 a night instead of its usual $79.
"We're just trying to generate business and let people know `hey we're up and running and we welcome business'," general manager Tim Dearsley said.
Half of its 74 rooms were full and the hotel was still taking bookings. However, he declined to say how many people had cancelled bookings post-quake.
Mr Dearsley was confident business would pick up as there was a "mood of optimism" in the city as people returned to work and schools reopened.
Aftershocks had dropped off dramatically, he added.
Meanwhile, Hotel Off the Square's owner Tim Nicholls said it had only just reopened today as it was in one of the worst hit areas, near Christchurch Cathedral.
Mr Nicholls did not put a figure on the number of cancellations but said it was easily 30-plus, and losses had run into thousands of dollars within days of the quake.
He had not had time to consider offering special room rates, he said.
Things had been "pretty stressful" since the quake: "It's hard to be optimistic at the moment," he said.
The accommodation industry had just been through a tough winter, so the quake was a further blow.
"The market was depressed anyway so rates were low and occupancies were down so we were already contending with a fairly stressed industry."
Christchurch bed and breakfast co-owner Gaye Johnson said it would not be able to reopen until October due to quake damage.
Huntingdon Grange's roof had been damaged and its most popular guest room condemned. She had been forced to cancel bookings and business had been "badly affected".
- NZPA
