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The announcement that 200 more properties face demolition in Christchurch has brought relief for some homeowners, but others remain in limbo.
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today that 255 orange zone homes have been rezoned.
Forty two have been given green zone status, which means their owners can begin the process of repairing or rebuilding, and 213 have gone red, which means the properties will be subject to Government offers of purchase.
The 213 properties turned red today are in parts of Avonside, Burwood, Dallington and Wainoni. The owners of these properties with insurance cover will be eligible for the Crown's residential red zone offer.
Avonside resident Anne Kay said the announcement today came out of the blue.
"I didn't even know there was an announcement today, I was just shell-shocked," she said after learning her home was in the red zone.
"It will be hard but I've said goodbye to other houses, and so you just take that next step don't you?"
Port Hills in limbo
Some 2750 homeowners are still awaiting a decision on the fate of their properties.
Along with the 653 remaining residential properties in the orange zone, there are also 2100 white zoned residential properties in the Port Hills which need re-zoning.
Today's announcements brought no new answers for Port Hills resident Peter Don who said he's getting tired of being in limbo.
"Bit frustrating really, sort of just a bit over it, we'd like to have a decision so we can move on with our lives," he said.
"I think I'd like it to go red because we'd like to make a final decision so we know where we're heading."
Brownlee acknowledged the frustrations of residents like Don, but said they are moving as quickly as possible.
"I know it's been a long and anxious wait for these residents and there is certainly no comfort in being the last of over 150,000 properties that have been rezoned but we are now in the final stretch of that process," he said.
Challenging decisions
Brownlee says today's zoning decisions have been among the most challenging of the over 10,000 flat land properties originally zoned orange, given the complex nature of the damage, which varies from street to street.
Of the 653 orange zone properties that require final zoning, 401 of them are in Southshore, and the others in smaller pockets bordering already red and green zoned land.
"The judgement calls being made on remaining properties are finer and more complex than previous decisions, which is why they haven't been announced sooner," Brownlee said.
"Most of the geotechnical and other expert works are now done, and I expect the 653 remaining orange zone properties to be re-zoned in the coming weeks."
For the 213 properties zoned red today, door knocking and public meetings will be held to ensure residents affected are given the information they need.
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