Christchurch earthquake: Error strewn heritage demolition process 'abysmal'

A visibly upset lady walks through the rubble on Madras Street after the February 22 quake. Photo / Christchurch Star

Errors on the list of the Civil Defence's list of Christchurch CBD buildings set for demolition throws the whole process into question, a Christchurch not-for-profit organisation manager says.

On Friday Civil Defence released a list of 184 buildings which require full demolition, partial demolition, or to be made safe.

The Community Law Canterbury building, on 281 Madras St, was among 128 marked for demolition.

However the Civil Defence yesterday acknowledged errors had been made and a new list would be released tomorrow. A spokeswoman said they were looking in to the status of 281 Madras St.

Community Law Canterbury's manager, Paul O'Neill, said the process had been "abysmal".

"In a way I'm annoyed and quite angry but on several levels, not just the lack of communication, but when you are dropping buildings you need to make sure it has to come down."

Initially, the building had received a yellow placard, meaning it required further assessments, but a week later was given a red placard - meaning do not enter - as a result of the risk posed by nearby buildings, rather than the building's own instability.

Mr O'Neill said he first heard the building would have to come down on Friday, when he was told by a staff member the building has been included on the demolition list.

He was disappointed he could not be told clearly by Civil Defence why the building had to come down.

"I went [to the Civil Defence headquarters] on the Saturday and no one from Civil Defence was there," Mr O'Neill said.

"What we are upset about is we can't get a clear answer.

"The only people who have the information are Civil Defence and unfortunately they don't share well."

The news there may have been errors with the demolition list concerned Mr O'Neill.

"It makes me question the robustness of the whole process," he said, adding if his building was incorrectly assessed, how many others also were.

Community Law Canterbury employs 30 staff, Mr O'Neill said, and has 300 volunteers. Following the quake the community law centre - who offer free legal help and advice - have been operating from a drop-in clinic on Riccarton Rd and recovery centres around the city.

But they need to know the future of their Madras St premise so they can move on and lease a new building if need be, he said.

"If it needs to demolished it has our blessing. But it appears there might have been a mistake," Mr O'Neill said.

Other buildings are in the same boat, he said, while others have been torn down without their owner's knowledge.

"People are finding their business - and their lives - torn down without any consultation ... it is not good enough," Mr O'Neill said. "It sounds like a bunch of cowboys have rode into town.

"The sooner Civil Defence and their bureaucrats get out of this town the better."