About 80 hectares of earthquake-damaged land in Christchurch's Port Hills has been transferred to the city council.
Port Hills Crown-owned red zone land. Photo: Supplied / Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)
Land Information Minister Damien O'Connor announced the latest transfer of the Crown-owned red zoned land today.
It is part of a progressive process, with the land changing hands from Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to the council, which began last year.
"It builds on last year's transfer of areas in Brooklands, Southshore and South New Brighton, along with the historic Bill Sutton House in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor," O'Connor said.
The Crown transferred about 440 Port Hills properties to the care of the Christchurch City Council after the 2010 earthquakes left them in danger of rockfall, land slips and cliff collapse, he said.
The properties were spread across the Port Hills from Whitewash Head on Scarborough Hill to Charteris Bay and included parts of Lyttelton, Sumner, Redcliffs, and Cashmere.
"In the past 10 years, the Crown has completed about 400 demolitions of severely earthquake-damaged properties in the area, many of which were highly complex and used innovative techniques.
"In addition, we've planted almost 50,000 native plants - helping to enhance biodiversity across the Port Hills - and have supported numerous projects and events."
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority made LINZ responsible for the Crown-owned, quake-damaged land in 2015.
The land transfer falls under the September 2019 Global Settlement Agreement, a contract between the Crown and the council to finalise the remaining costs and responsibilities for Christchurch's earthquake recovery.