Estuary bookThe Avon-Heathcote Estuary / Ihutai Trust have produced a beautiful A5 book on the estuary. It is packed full of information about the area, including the wildlife, sites of historical interest and history. It is fully up to date with high quality graphics and photographs.

The Trust have kindly allowed local community groups to raise funds by selling the book for its RRP of $15. If you would

like to buy this book and help fund the South Brighton Residents’ Association, or have a look at a copy, please contact Mary at SouthBrightonRA@gmail.com.

Meeting with EQC The SBRA has been actively involved in trying to find out further information about TC3 land. A subgroup met with a representative from EQC on 31st August. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss a document EQC were preparing to release to the public focusing on TC3 land claims, they wanted to gain some feedback from the residents’ assosciation. Some of the issues that were raised included; how the cash settlement figure is calculated; what is EQC’s definition of damage; and will land be reinstated to new flood hazard and sea level rise data?

The SBRA are concerned about the potential flood risk following the changing land levels of South Brighton properties post-quake. The meeting highlighted that for those properties that are not being rebuilt or having significant foundation repair, any cash settlement for a land damage claim may not be sufficient to raise the dwelling to appropriate heights. This may result in homeowners receiving their entitlement to “fix” their land but since it might not cover raising the level of the house, it is possible homeowners may use this money for something else. Within a few days of this meeting many residents received their land reports from EQC regarding their personal land claim. Unfortunately this letter does not address many of the issues that were raised during our meeting.It is our hope that EQC will address these issues in their future communications.

We ask that YOU consider these questions. What impact will this have on future insurance for a property, future building permits, mortgage security with a bank and future sale prospects? The SBRA have been in contact with the Department of Building and Housing and the City Council on behalf of residents to clarify this situation. We will keep residents updated. Please check our Facebook site for updates.

200 Year flood plain

Variation 48

200 Year flood plain

Variation 48

Most houses built to then current floor-levels of 11.5 meters, 50 year flood plainFloor levels Before Earthquakes

Illustrations modified from EQC land report. Land and house drop added, sea level raised as per predictions. SBRA

None Minor Moderate to major Severe

Ground Surface Observation after Earthquakes - Floor levels dropFoor-levels now from 11.5 - 11.1 meters

Our concerns

Land , 25 cmHouse , 15 cm

Land , 25 cmHouse , 12 cm

Land , 20 cmHouse , 10 cm

Land , 15 cmHouse , 8 cm

Land , 10 cmHouse , 5 cm

Christchurch City Council policy. Current advice (2009) is to plan for Sea Level Rise of 50cmSouth New Brighton Reserves Management Plan

50 Year flood plain

50 Year flood plain

DBH provide a guide to repairs / recommendation. Not binding.CCC have the final say in this matter based on; The City Plan and the Building Act.EQC and/or your insurance company provide the most appropriate solution based on CCC regulations.

Will this affect me if my house or foundations will be rebuilt? Floorlevels will be built above flood plain.Will this affect me if my foundation are repaired?“Existing use rights” or above flood plain. CCC regulations.Will this affect me if my house is re-leveled?“Existing use rights” or above flood plain. CCC regulations.

“Existing use rights” may apply to your property and you may not need a resource consent in respect of flood risk and floor levels.

Statement from Bruce Emson EQCWe’re starting in the least- satisfied area of the city: TC3, customers with greater than $15,000 damage will be getting a letter from us this month - setting out the plan we have in that part of the city.Land damage information packs have begun arriving in mailboxes of customers with land damage claims, and settlement information will follow soon.

Source;http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/7630149/EQC-acting-on-customer-satisfaction

“This is the information we have as this newsletter goes to press. Residents will be aware and appreciate that the situation as described by EQC and other government agencies is only current when we go to press, it may change subsequently!” SBRA

The South Brighton Newsletter Issue 2 - 09 - 2012

Two TC3 Meetings Grace Vineyard Church 111 Seaview Road New BrigthonThursday 27th September, 6 - 8:30pm andWednesday 3rd October, 6-8.30pm

The SBRA will be attending these meetings on behalf of themselves and the community. We are planning to ask some focused questions on the specific issues facing TC3 homeowners in South Brighton. If you are a TC3 homeowner please come along to this meeting so we can present a united front to CERA and EQC, and email us any questions you may have.Information on meetings at http://cera.govt.nz/residential-green-zone-technical-categories/community-meetings

Beach Clean-up Day: Sat. 13th October, 10amSBRA have organised a spring community beach clean-up and planting session in the area around the South New Brighton Surf Club. The Garbage Monster will be in attendance and hopefully a kite display. Please come and join other residents in having fun and help make our suburb even better! The CCC rangers and their sausage sizzle will be there to assist

Roadworks The SBRA has been very concerned about the effect the Bridge Street bridge’s reduction to one way will have upon residents and local businesses. Therefore a meeting was held with SCIRT, in conjunction with Southshore Residents’ Association, Councillor Glenn Livingstone and Lianne Dalziel MP to explore options. It is hoped that this will result in a consultation meeting organised by SCIRT that will allow other options, including a tidal one-way system (ie: different ways at different times of day) to be fully explored with the community. Meanwhile local businesses, especially the garage and Bridge Street Dairy, are likely to be adversely affected by the closure to east-bound traffic. The SBRA hopes that residents will support these businesses during this difficult time.

The Background to the Community Launderette and Water Supply, February 2011Civil Defence volunteers opened the sector post at New Brighton School shortly after the February earthquake. It quickly became apparent that there was a serious need for water. The council well at Jellicoe Street was running freely into the park. The Civil Defence co-ordinator, James Vivian-Neal, requested that McMillan (who had originally drilled the well) checked the quality of the water. A McMillan worker came out late at night to take a water sample, and within 36 hours it was confirmed that this was fit to use. James requested that a plumber fit taps to make it easier to fill bottles. Many people were very grateful for this sweet tasting water!

Meanwhile James also responded to an offer from Fisher and Paykel to supply community washing machines. A kind homeowner in Craddock Street allowed his house to be used, and the machines were hooked up to an artesian well and a portable generator. The owner also very generously allowed people to use his hot (gas) shower, using the artesian well water through a pressure pump.

Keeping our Community Clear of TaggingSouth Brighton Residents’ Association would like to assist in whatever way possible with maintaining a clean and respectful environment for the community. One idea is to co-ordinate volunteers to make graffiti removal quicker and more efficient. As mentioned in the last newsletter the City Council’s “Off the Wall” Scheme provides free paint and brushes to help tackle tagging. You can phone them now on 03 941 8999 or email them on GraffitiOffice@ccc.govt.nz.

If you have registered with “Off the Wall” please let us know by texting 02102851528, emailing SouthBrightonRA@gmail.com or via facebook http://www.facebook.com/BrightsideTheSouth

In the last month tagging has been removed from the toilet blocks in the South Brighton Domain and is looking tidy and clean so: “thank you to the City Council”. However other community buildings have been targeted. Happily the South Brighton Surf Club are currently organising their own mural to decorate their large outside walls. They are open to ideas on what the focus will be and hope to have it completed before the start of summer. The Scout Hall is also going to be cleaned.

Meanwhile The Renew Brighton Group have organised a working day to tackle general tagging on 15th September and are planning a Month of Murals for larger walls in November. See their Facebook page for further details of these events.

So the message is: you can do something to tidy up your place, your street and be proud of this small part of paradise, South Brighton!

The Brightside SpaThe suggestion by Hugo Kristinsson regarding a South Brighton spa that was published in the last issue has recieved a lot of local support. So far over 220 people have signed a petition in support of the

idea and prominent members of the community have given it their backing. An incorporated company is in the process of being set up to take this idea forward.

For further information contact Hugo Kristinsson: brightsidespa@gmail.com or find us on Facebook The Brightside Spa (community).

The Residents’ Association The South Brighton Residents’ Association was re-started in June. The interim committee has 10 members, and the AGM will be held on Friday, October 26th. The interim Chair and Vice Chairs are Mary Hart and Darren Rooney respectively. Hugo Kristinsson is responsible for the newsletter layout and TC3 issues. We are all local residents who want to help improve the South Brighton community, and support residents and businesses following the earthquakes. One of the first decisions we took was to produce a regular newsletter.

The Garbage Monster in South Brighton

We have been overwhelmed with the positive response to the first issue of The South Brightside. We are so grateful to the many people who made the effort to email us with appreciation, suggestions and comments. Thank you! People have also kindly offered to help, including the people who are taking the time to deliver this issue of the newsletter. Thank you also for the suggestions that have been sent in which are all taken seriously and discussed. For example, several residents submitted ideas for the use of the croquet club, and these ideas are being collated to present to the Council. Please email us with any more.

Over the last couple of months the committee have been working on a number of issues. These include: • Setting up TC3 subgroup.• Organising Red Cross and volunteers to visit all TC3 homes

in the South Brighton area (through St Faiths). We know that these visits were appreciated by many people, and we are very grateful to the volunteers who have come from as far away as Dunedin. They have enabled TC3 residents to be assisted with visits, access to grants, information and other referrals;

• Organising the first of our community events: the Beach Clean-Up Day on October 13th;

• Ensuring that extra rubbish bins have been placed along the beach;

• Working and encouraging residents to erase tagging as quickly as possible, and initiating the tagging reduction strategy as outlined above;

• Working to explore options around Bridge Street bridge reduction to one way traffic;

• Continuing to request information regarding the stopbanks, the reserves, and cleaning up following the tree felling;

• Organising funding to enable a permanent community noticeboard to be placed outside the Bridge Street Dairy.

• Working closely with Southshore Residents’ Association on issues that affect both communities.

We are only as strong as the members of our association and would love more residents to come to our meetings, and hopefully join us in our work for the community. If you are interested please email us or come to our next meeting at St Lukes, 212 Pine Ave at 7pm on Friday, 27th September. If the Residents’ Association is not for you, but you would like to get involved in other ways, we also need people to become involved in our graffiti initiative, deliver newsletters, inform us of issues and concerns, provide ideas, and help with writing the newsletter. Email SouthBrightonRA@gmail.com

WalkwayWork was suddenly halted on repairing the estuary walkway due to the city-wide review of stopbanks and flooding investigation

work. The SBRA is planning to campaign for the walkways to be completed to a better standard so that residents can use them again in the interim.

Tree RemovalThe earthquakes and on-going land movement make it difficult for arborists to predict how the pine trees will ultimately be affected. The removal of the pine trees in Blighs Garden, and two areas either side of Bridge Street has now been completed. The Blighs Garden area will revert to a grassed area, and therefore the stumps, branches and mulch have largely (although not completely) been removed to enable grass to be re-established. In July another tree fell over, and this and an adjacent tree will shortly be removed. In the areas around Bridge Street the stumps and mulch will be left until a replanting plan is finalised (possibly as late as 2014).

The council consulted an ornithologist last summer regarding the birdlife in the area. Therefore certain trees remain, even though some of them are dead, to ensure that white faced herons and other birds continue to have somewhere to roost. These trees are not seen as a threat to the walkways and reserve-users as they are leaning towards the estuary. The South Brighton Residents’ Association have requested that future consultation with the ornithologist will be communicated with local residents.

Further south, residents will have noticed a fenced off area around the old ropes course and the western edge of the Jellicoe Street reserve. We have been advised that the trees within the fencing are a potential hazard, and are being monitored. The fencing is meant to deter people from entering. Already several trees within the fenced off area have fallen over.

South Brighton 1957. Trees planted around 1870 still in place. © VC Brown & Son

Looking towards a brighter future

Meanwhile the area behind the campground can still be accessed through the southwest corner of the Jellicoe Street reserve (to meet up with Caspian Street). This is believed to be safe as these trees are of a different type and of varying ages, and some selected felling was undertaken last year.

The South Brighton Reserves Management Plan is due to be reviewed in October (see below) and re-planting will follow this.

Playgrounds The Jellicoe Street playground has been fenced off for several weeks. This is due to worries regarding the adjacent trees.

South Brighton ReserveSeveral people have contacted the SBRA about the reserve, and we know that for many residents it is a real asset to South Brighton. Ideas have included the development of both bike and walking tracks, an info centre and guided tours. Therefore we hope that as many people as possible will be able to attend the consultation workshop.

The South New Brighton Reserves Management Plan 2010 is being reviewed to take account of the many changes in South New Brighton Park, Bridge Reserve, and Blighs Garden brought about by the earthquakes.

A workshop where all local residents can provide their thoughts and ideas on the recovery of these reserves will be held in the South New Brighton School Performing Arts Room on Thursday 1 November 2012, 7-9pm.

Further information about the management plan process and how you can have input will be available from 8 October 2012 on the Council’s website www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay/Details of the submission process will be put on our Facebook page.

Donations After the Earthquakes Lots of positive things are happening in our community that some residents may not be aware of. Both the South New Brighton Kidsfirst Kindergarten and South New Brighton School received generous donations from organisations and people all over New Zealand and further afield after the earthquakes. Families have benefitted from the generosity and knowing that so many people care. School Principal, John Bockett, was overwhelmed with the generosity shown. Following is a summary of the items received and John is hoping not to have missed any out as the list is extensive! Ngaio School in Wellington kindly fundraised and donated approximately $20,000 to the school. There were also donations from Brighton-le-Sands School (Sydney), Westmere and Woodlands Park Schools (Auckland), Orewa College and Brighton School (Dunedin). The Pye Foundation donated $10,000 worth of books and resources. The NZ School Trustees Association donated $3000 and the Ministry of Education with the Greater Christchurch School Network provided a wireless network upgrade and staff professional support.

Business support has come from United Fisheries, Air New Zealand and Garden City Helicopters. Community groups have also provided monetary or pastoral support including YouthTown, The Salvation Army and the 222 Christchurch Network (Japanese Association). The Rotary Club donated $13,000 plus labour. The school children also received knitted garments from around New Zealand and they are still arriving! They have been very popular with the students.

Private individuals were also incredibly generous including the Meuller family of Germany and the Gestro family of USA (cash), anonymous donations of $1000 worth of groceries and $500 worth of petrol for families. One girl in Mount Maunganui sold feijoas from her garden and donated $13! Lots of grandparents who live outside the city also made donations, including one of $1100.

John was particularly impressed by a donation from Vulcan Steel. In all they donated around $100,000 of children’s thermal clothing to the eastern suburbs, of which around one third came to South New Brighton. Vulcan Steel chairman Peter Wells grew up in eastern Christchurch.

Information and Assistance Sources

Torfrida Wainwright

http://www.facebook.com/BrightsideTheSouth SouthBrightonRA@gmail.com

including winter heating grant (more broadly available than previously), disability support grant and storage / relocation grant). 0800 754 726 or http://www.redcross.org.nz (look at Grants tab towards top of page). Cancern: http://www.cancern.org.nz. (good source of information)Rebuild Christchurch http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/

Local linksNew Brighton Project : http://www.newbrightonproject.org.nz/Renew Brighton : http://www.facebook.com/Renew.BrightonNB Community Gardens: http://www.nbgardens.org.nz/ Southshore Residents’ Association : A very informative website, full of local information: http://ssra.org.nz/

Upcoming datesTC3 Meetings: 27th September and 3rd October, 6-8:30pmBeach Clean Up Day: 13th October, 10amSBRA Meeting: 27th September, 7pm St LukesReserve Workshop: 1st November, 7-9pm

‘We have done our best to provide accurate information. Apologies for any inaccuracies.’SBRA

Earthquake Support Coordinators are available to assist people to navigate their way through the wide range of services involved in rebuilding people’s homes and lives. The coordinators work with you to access as little or as much help as you need.They can meet with you anywhere you choose - your home, place of work, or other location. They can provide information, identify services to assist with earthquake-related housing, finance, legal, insurance and health matters, organise meetings between you and the experts. The assistance is free and confidential. Call 0800 777 846

InsuranceWatch.org.nz is the work of a team of volunteers helping quake-affected Christchurch property owners. Their aim is to improve insurance response to earthquake affected customers. Visit their website for up to date information on insurance issues, and comparisons of insurance companies.

LinksRed Cross grants (see for details of Christchurch Earthquake grants

South New Brighton Kidsfirst Kindergarten also received generous gifts. Three cartons of knitted garments from Australia were provided via the City Mission and The New Brighton Project delivered locally made slippers, mittens and quilts for families. Three early childhood centres in the North Island also donated money and resources. Other items and money have been donated from elsewhere in New Zealand and Australia too. All were greatly appreciated.

The Estuary Road Preschool have received various donations of knitwear for the children from various sources including the Salvation Army and soft toys from a pub charity in Nelson. Donations were still arriving occasionally and supervisor, Deanna, said these were a welcome boost for the preschool’s families.

Submissions from readers:

SHAG

Out in the sea todayI banged my knee and

Forgot ‘til now‘Til the aching night,

I saw the KaikourasLike clouds and

The clouds cut intoWhite discs

Cut with a sharp knife,To the heart,

A shag flipped into

The waterPoured as from a jug,

Oh how I admired itI wanted to be it,

That sleek black shag with itsWhite bellyFull of fish

Full of lightMaster of all water

And wind.

By Kirstie McKinnon

American MetalYou might have seen us. Pea green dinghy with golden lab(scorch) proud and important at the front with the outboard smoking(literally) at the back. Evinrude usually, there is something about that classic American metal that soothes the soul. Especially after hours of tinkering to get it running right. Either up river to check flotsam and jetsom at deadmans island,or further still on up to visit friends by Kerrs reach. But maybe the other way today going out to the middle of the estuary to take in the panoramic views of the Alps, hills, sky, clouds and stuff. Feeling relaxed but for years not knowing why, until somebody told me it was the alpha rays coming from the water. Whatever. My house might be slightly knackered and my insurance company no longer in business and the economy might be going to hell(not the pizza place) in a hand cart still there is no where else I want to live. Here with the estuary and river and sea as my sanctuary. Here with the bridge like a border from another world. The river a moat to repell the cares of the city.by Derek mehlhopt

A cover of a promotional booklet for Brighton published 1920

Publishers’ NoteTHE object of this Booklet is to call attention

to the many attractions of NewBrighton as a Seaside and Health Resort - as

an ideal place for a day’s outing at the seaside,and as a desirable locality as a place of permiment

residence.Seaside and other attractions have been givena prominent place in the pages following, for

the reason that it is these features that give NewBrighton its claim to the title “Canterbury’sPlayground.” It will be found, however, that

the township and district are substantial andprogressive, and present all the elements of

permanence and prosperity.It is claimed that this Booklet meets a wantthat has been long felt. Many visitors to the

city have been unaware of the fact that at soshort a distance and at the termination of sopleasant a journey, there are to be found sea

bathing and surfing, sun bathing, and invigoratingsea air unrivalled anywhere.

Neighbour

I do I do I do I docare about youmy neighbour

we have been bluebut now you

are redbut I do I do I do I do

care about youim yellow

but I feel blueand I do I do I docare about you

so how are we gonna make this thing that we feel to go through

we cant be bluewe have to do do do

because I care about youI do I do I do I do

By DEM

http://www.facebook.com/BrightsideTheSouth SouthBrightonRA@gmail.com