What Budget 2018 has for Christchurch and the South
In the words of Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods, “We are not making Canterbury decisions from Wellington. Local decision-makers will be front and centre because they know what’s best for Christchurch.” This after Finance Minister Grant Robertson in his Budget 2018 speech announced $300 million for accelerating Canterbury’s recovery.
$300 million Acceleration Fund
The details of this $300 million fund are as under:
- $298.5 million of capital in 2018/19 for the acceleration fund, plus operating funding of $500,000 in 2017/18 and $1.0 million in 2018/19 for its administration.
- Of this, Christchurch City Council can access capital investment to complete projects beyond the arrangements already fully dealt with in the Cost Sharing Agreement with the Crown – to help speed up important projects in Christchurch.
- Some projects that might benefit from this acceleration fund include completion of the stadium and financing new uses for the Residential Red Zone.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel welcomed the announcement of setting up of the Fund, adding, “As a Council we welcome the opportunity to take the lead in identifying the priorities for Christchurch. We have been listening to submissions on our Long Term Plan and it is clear that there are significant issues this will help address, for example, our earthquake damaged infrastructure and provision of the stadium.”
A Special Insurance Tribunal
Besides, the government is establishing a special insurance tribunal at the capital cost of $1.5 million to resolve outstanding Earthquake Commission (EQC) and insurance claims and disputes arising from the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. A further $6.5 million will be provided for operations of the tribunal, which according to the government, “Will provide an active, individually case-managed resolution process for claimants and their insurers, as well as mediation services”.
Public inquiry into EQC
“We are also funding a public inquiry into the performance of EQC during these earthquakes, the final terms of reference and membership of which will be announced shortly. Budget 2018 provides operating funding of $800,000 in 2017/18 and $2.4 million in 2018/19, as well as $100,000 of capital in 2017/18 to ensure this inquiry has the resources it needs. The inquiry will usefully inform legislative changes to the Earthquake Commission Act 1993 and to EQC, and a planned review of insurance contract law. It’s important we get to the bottom of what went wrong, so that we are better prepared for future disasters. We owe it to the people of Canterbury, who have been through so much, to ensure their voices are heard. We also need to look at what was done well, and what has worked better in the Kaikoura earthquake sequence,” added Minister Woods.
Christchurch schools funding
The Budget also saw $62 million allocated in new capital investment for the Christchurch Schools Rebuild programme. This according to ChristchurchNZ chief executive Joanna Norris “will be a comfort to the sector and community which had been heavily impacted by the post-quake Canterbury Schools reorganisation”.
Mackenzie Basin funding
Further south, the Budget also made provisions for a $2.6 million fund, for better protection of the unique landscapes and biodiversity of the Mackenzie Basin – part of additional Department of Conservation operating funding of $181.6 million. “This is a positive step to ensuring a quality visitor experience looking forward to further detail on how this will be weighed against existing property rights and land uses,” Ms Norris said.
In the words of Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods, “We are not making Canterbury decisions from Wellington. Local decision-makers will be front and centre because they know what’s best for Christchurch.” This after Finance Minister Grant Robertson in his Budget 2018 speech...
In the words of Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods, “We are not making Canterbury decisions from Wellington. Local decision-makers will be front and centre because they know what’s best for Christchurch.” This after Finance Minister Grant Robertson in his Budget 2018 speech announced $300 million for accelerating Canterbury’s recovery.
$300 million Acceleration Fund
The details of this $300 million fund are as under:
- $298.5 million of capital in 2018/19 for the acceleration fund, plus operating funding of $500,000 in 2017/18 and $1.0 million in 2018/19 for its administration.
- Of this, Christchurch City Council can access capital investment to complete projects beyond the arrangements already fully dealt with in the Cost Sharing Agreement with the Crown – to help speed up important projects in Christchurch.
- Some projects that might benefit from this acceleration fund include completion of the stadium and financing new uses for the Residential Red Zone.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel welcomed the announcement of setting up of the Fund, adding, “As a Council we welcome the opportunity to take the lead in identifying the priorities for Christchurch. We have been listening to submissions on our Long Term Plan and it is clear that there are significant issues this will help address, for example, our earthquake damaged infrastructure and provision of the stadium.”
A Special Insurance Tribunal
Besides, the government is establishing a special insurance tribunal at the capital cost of $1.5 million to resolve outstanding Earthquake Commission (EQC) and insurance claims and disputes arising from the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. A further $6.5 million will be provided for operations of the tribunal, which according to the government, “Will provide an active, individually case-managed resolution process for claimants and their insurers, as well as mediation services”.
Public inquiry into EQC
“We are also funding a public inquiry into the performance of EQC during these earthquakes, the final terms of reference and membership of which will be announced shortly. Budget 2018 provides operating funding of $800,000 in 2017/18 and $2.4 million in 2018/19, as well as $100,000 of capital in 2017/18 to ensure this inquiry has the resources it needs. The inquiry will usefully inform legislative changes to the Earthquake Commission Act 1993 and to EQC, and a planned review of insurance contract law. It’s important we get to the bottom of what went wrong, so that we are better prepared for future disasters. We owe it to the people of Canterbury, who have been through so much, to ensure their voices are heard. We also need to look at what was done well, and what has worked better in the Kaikoura earthquake sequence,” added Minister Woods.
Christchurch schools funding
The Budget also saw $62 million allocated in new capital investment for the Christchurch Schools Rebuild programme. This according to ChristchurchNZ chief executive Joanna Norris “will be a comfort to the sector and community which had been heavily impacted by the post-quake Canterbury Schools reorganisation”.
Mackenzie Basin funding
Further south, the Budget also made provisions for a $2.6 million fund, for better protection of the unique landscapes and biodiversity of the Mackenzie Basin – part of additional Department of Conservation operating funding of $181.6 million. “This is a positive step to ensuring a quality visitor experience looking forward to further detail on how this will be weighed against existing property rights and land uses,” Ms Norris said.
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