Owners resigned to abandoning homes

Mike Sawers checks out his neighbour's pool, which was an in-ground one until the February quake. Photo / Simon Baker

Homeowners in one of the areas worst hit by the Christchurch earthquakes are resigned to their land being abandoned as Government announcements on their future loom.

"My hope is being able to rebuild ... but I don't think that's practical," said Mike Sawers, whose Avonside home of about 34 years is severely cracked and on a lean.

"It's going to be written off. I would say this whole block ... is done for. My favourite whitebaiting spot is just across the road on the [Avon] River. I'm going to miss it."

Most of the homes along the river are damaged and vacant. The roads are like muddy 4WD tracks.

An announcement may come as soon as tomorrow on the future of quake-ravaged suburbs, but Prime Minister John Key could not guarantee it would be this week.

Avonside resident Trudi Nicholson, 62, only has to look at the cracks running through her property of 13 years to see the future for her area is grim.

"It was such a wonderful area. It is a pity ... but I'm actually reconciled now to having to leave," Mrs Nicholson said.

"You hear so many rumours ... '[everything] 100m within the river would have to go' was one rumour."

Although there has been strong criticism of how long the Government is taking to release information, the residents are more forgiving.

"It just can't be hurried really, can it? I don't think it can," Mr Sawers said. "It's a lot bigger task than what people recognise."

Another Avonside homeowner could appreciate that the Government had to be "super thorough".

"Even though it looks terrible out in front of us, our house is still standing and we are hopeful of being able to stay where we are."