Essential Information (28 February)

Essential information

Last updated 05:00 28/02/2011

 

The latest essential information for Monday, February 28:

ACCOMMODATION

Housing New Zealand has a temporary accommodation service for displaced people.

If you have accommodation you can offer, or you are looking for help with accommodation, contact 0800 HELP 00 (0800435700), visit www.housinghelp.govt.nz, or go to one of the welfare centres (see welfare centre entry).

Visit www.quakeescape.org.nz and http://quakemap.net to find accommodation all over the country.

CORDONS

No-one is allowed to enter the central business district. Anyone wanting to do so must go to the corner of Bealey Ave and Park Tce for instructions. The cordon is strictly no admittance between 6pm and 6am. Those breaking this curfew could be arrested.

FLIGHTS

All international and domestic flights are operating, but check with your airline first. Christchurch International Airport can be contacted on 0800568369.

GAS

You can fill 9kg gas cylinders at: Butler Automart, Stanmore Rd; Challenge Opawa, 11 Opawa Rd; Caltex Main North Rd, 315 Main North Rd; Caltex Lincoln Rd, 55 Lincoln Rd; Challenge Halswell, Halswell Rd; Challenge Spreydon, corner Milton and Selwyn streets; Challenge Lincoln, 23 Gerald St; Caltex Cranford St, 500 Cranford St; Rockgas Byron St, corner Byron and Brisbane streets (under review); Bishopdale, 318 Harewood Rd; Blighs Rd, corner Blighs and Idris roads; Caltex Blenheim Rd, 149 Blenheim Rd; Caltex Riccarton Rd, 66 Riccarton Rd; Caltex Russley, 2 Russley Rd.

The Elgas 9kg Swap 'n' Go programme is available through Shell service stations, excluding Barrington St, Shirley, Linwood Ave, New Brighton and Lancaster [east end of Moorhouse Ave] which are closed. Also from BOC 21 Epsom Rd, Sockburn and Mondo Vino, 42 Norwich Quay in Lyttelton.

Elgas household and business deliveries are being made where access is possible.

GENERAL HELPLINES/WEBSITES

People affected by the quake can call the Government's 24-hour earthquake helpline for information on income support, housing options/accommodation, health issues, community assistance, Civil Defence or any other government service on 0800779997.

Healthline is available on 0800611116.

A business-owners' helpline is available on 0800424946.

For information on the Earthquake Commission's insurance cover, cleaning up and making an EQC claim, call 0800 DAMAGE (0800326243).

For assessment of major structural damage to your home or business premises or for help with essential council services such as water supply or sewage disposal, contact the Christchurch City Council on (03)9418999.

Information, advice and contacts for Canterbury farmers are available from 8.30am to 5pm weekdays, by calling the Federated Farmers Helpline: 0800 FARMING (0800327646).

A support and counselling service is available on 0800777846 or call Lifeline on 0800543354.

There is information at www.trademe.co.nz/christchurch-earthquake-support.

HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CENTRES

All hospitals are operating, but phone a medical centre or your GP first unless it is an emergency.

Calls will be forwarded to a nurse-led phone triage service to determine if you should attend the hospital's emergency department or one of three after-hours services at the Moorhouse Medical Centre on Moorhouse Ave, Riccarton Clinic on Riccarton Rd and the 24-Hour Surgery on Bealey Ave.

About 70 per cent of medical centres are open.

All elective surgery and outpatient appointments are postponed until Tuesday.

LAUNDRY

Fisher and Paykel have free laundry facilities, including washing powder, at the corner of Berswick and Charles streets, Kaiapoi (in a portacom, flexible hours, call or text Dave on 021995973) and at 79 Shands Rd, Hornby (open 8.30am to 4pm weekends and 8am to 4pm weekdays).

LEAVING THE CITY

Please let your neighbours, friends and family know if you are leaving your home and/or the city.

MISSING PEOPLE

INQUIRIES

Call 0800733276 or 0800 RED CROSS (0800733276).

For inquiries from outside New Zealand call: 006478502199.

Google's missing people finder: http://christchurch-2011.person-finder.appspot.com.

PETROL

There is no need to stockpile fuel as Christchurch will not run out.

The following petrol stations are open:

Shell stations: Belfast, Templeton, Carmen Rd, Kaiapoi, Curletts Rd, Southbrook, Addington Raceway, Bryndwyr, Yaldhurst, Burnside, Bishopdale, Darfield, Brougham St, Ferry Rd and Cashmere Rd.

Shell truckstops: Hornby, Templeton, Southbrook, Amberley and Sawyers Arms.

BP stations: West Melton, Halswell, Rolleston, Fendalton, Hoon Hay, Bush Inn, Westburn, Kaikoura, Papanui (diesel only), Marshlands and Woodend (diesel only).

BP truckstops (fuelcard purchases only): Sockburn, Ashburton and Kaikoura.

Caltex stations (stocks not guaranteed): Ashburton, Avonhead, Cranford St, Hornby (no diesel stop), Russley, Rangiora, Bishopdale, Redwood, Blenheim Rd, Kaiapoi and Lincoln Rd.

Mobil stations: Creyke Rd, Hagley South, Papanui, Redwood, St Martin's Garage, Wainoni and Wigram.

PHONE SERVICES

Do not overload phone lines with non-essential calls.

Civil Defence is asking the public to keep cellphone use to a minimum, especially voice and data. If you must use your cellphone, send text messages.

Christchurch's 111 service has been diverted to Wellington.

Telecom says payphones in the Christchurch area are free to use.

ANIMALS

Lost and found pet advertisements are on www.petsonthenet.co.nz and on www.trademe.co.nz. The SPCA is unable to offer its track-a-pet service.

Call the SPCA to aks if a lost pet has been handed in. Between 9am and 4pm, call (03)3497057 ext 201 or 205.

Outside these hours, call (03)3663886.

If you have lost a dog, call animal control on 0212408310.

For serious concerns about animals within the city cordon, phone the Christchurch City Council on (03)9418999.

The after-hours veterinary clinic has temporarily relocated to the Hornby Vet Centre, 7 Tower St, Hornby, phone (03)3661052. Opening hours are 7pm to 8am weekdays and 12pm Saturday to 8am Monday.

The Christchurch City Council's animal shelter at 10 Metro Pl, Bromley, is offering temporary care for dogs whose owners are displaced and at welfare centres. Call 0212408310.

TOILETS

Portable toilets are in place around the city and more are being sourced but may take some time to arrive.

People who do not have flushing toilets are advised to use a bin or bucket lined with two plastic bags or latrines dug in the garden. Cover the bin between uses. Bury the contents once the bin is no longer needed.

POSTAL SERVICES

Limited postal services will resume tomorrow. Where postal workers can deliver mail to and pick up mail from depends on what areas are cleared by the authorities and are deemed safe for staff to access, and also on staff availability.

For addresses where mail cannot be delivered, New Zealand Post will hold the mail. Details of pickup sites will be published from tomorrow.

MAIL REDIRECTION

New Zealand Post is providing free mail redirection services for residential customers in the earthquake affected areas.

These PostShop/Kiwibank stores in the Christchurch/Canterbury area will be open from today: Allenton (including box lobby)

Amberley (including box lobby), Ashburton, Avonhead (including box lobby), Darfield (including box lobby), Edgeware (including box lobby), Halswell (including box lobby), Hornby (including box lobby), Leeston (including box lobby), Lincoln (incuuding box lobby), Oxford (including box lobby), Papanui (including box lobby), Parklands (including box lobby), Phillipstown (including box lobby), Rangiora (including box lobby), Tower Junction (including box lobby).

Box lobbies at the following locations will also be open; Beckenham, Christchurch Airport, Doyleston, Dunsandal, Duvauchelle, Harewood, Hororata, Ilam, Kirwee, Little River, North Avon, Rolleston, Tai Tapu, Templeton, Woodend.

POWER

As of last night, electricity had been restored to about 80 per cent of the city.

About 250 people are working on restoration, focusing on the worst suburbs of Dallington, New Brighton, Sumner, Clifton and the central business district.

It could be weeks before power is restored to all of Christchurch.

If your power has been disconnected, turn off any electrical appliances to avoid safety issues when electricity is restored.

ROADS

Damage and rubble have closed many roads in the city and state highways.

Thirty-two roads and 13 bridges are closed in Christchurch.

Lyttelton Tunnel is open.

Call AA or visit http://maps.aa.co.nz/traffic/roadwatch for information.

To keep traffic off the roads, make essential trips only. The council is encouraging residents to walk if possible.

Yellow has made its 018 service free for calls originating from the Christchurch area.

SCHOOLS, PRESCHOOLS

AND UNIVERSITIES

Universities, schools and early-childhood centres in Canterbury are closed.

Civil Defence and the Education Ministry say all schools and preschools in Christchurch city must stay closed until further notice.

Some Waimakariri and Selwyn schools might reopen today. Parents should contact their school for further information.

Updates on school reopenings are available at http://www.minedu.govt.nz/.

The ministry's traumatic incident service can be contacted on 0800848326, while schools and early-childhood staff can call 0800225580.

Lincoln University will reopen for semester one/lectures on March 14. Staff are able to return from March 2. For more information, visit http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/.

Canterbury University is shut until further notice.

Next week the institution will confirm a restart date. It will not be before March 14. For more information, visit www.canterbury.ac.nz.

The Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology is closed for the rest of the week and will be reviewed on Monday. For more information, visit http://www.cpit.ac.nz/.

RUBBISH AND RECYCLING

Normal collection days apply for the red and green bins.

Perishable foods can be put in either bin. Human waste must be buried in the garden.

Recycling will resume on March 7.

Normal kerbside collection continues this week but delays are possible. Rubbish can be placed in both the green and red bins. If your street is cordoned off or restricted to light traffic, take your bin outside that area.

SUPERMARKETS

There is no need to stockpile food, as supplies continue to come into the city and supermarkets are stocked with enough food.

These supermarkets are open:

New Worlds in Ashburton, Bishopdale, Fendalton, Halswell, Lincoln, Northwood, Rangiora, Rolleston and Stanmore Rd.

Pak 'n Saves in Hornby, Riccarton and Northlands.

Four Squares in Amberley, Ashburton, Burnham, Cheviot, Culverden, Darfield, Hanmer Springs, Hawarden, Methven, Rakaia, Southbridge and Waikari.

Countdowns in Avonhead, Hornby, Bush Inn, Church Corner, Northlands, Kaiapoi, Northwood, Rangiora and Ashburton.

SuperValue Lincoln Rd, Fendalton, Edgeware and Wairakei.

FreshChoice Barrington, Parklands and Merivale.

SURFACE WATER

Assume river and sea water and any other surface water is contaminated with sewage and avoid all contact.

Basic functionality has been established at the Bromley wastewater treatment plant.

People should stay away from and do not swim, fish or gather shellfish in the sea, Canterbury rivers or any standing water until notified that it is safe to do so.

People who have sewage contamination within their homes should move to alternative accommodation.

URGENT BUILDING REPAIRS

Fletchers Building is providing emergency repairs to make homes liveable.

Homeowners who require emergency repairs can lodge a claim with the Earthquake Commission (EQC) and say they need urgent attention. They will then be contacted by Fletchers.

People can also get their own contractors to do repairs up to the value of $2000 and provide invoices to EQC.

For more information or to lodge a claim for damage call 0800326243.

WATER

The Christchurch City Council says water is a serious concern. About 50 per cent of the city has supply.

If you have mains water supply, you can flush your toilet and use showers sparingly.

If there are any signs of blockage or overflow stop flushing as this may be an indication of damaged pipes.

 

Welfare centres have been set up at Burnside High School and Pioneer Stadium to cater for support, advice or accommodation needs.

The Cowles Stadium centre has been closed because its water and sewerage services were unreliable.

A business hours drop-in centre has been set up at the Kaiapoi Community Centre Earthquake Hub in Sewell St, Kaiapoi.

Residents in need of welfare centres are reminded to bring personal medicine, sanitary products, and water bottles.

If water is not available, residents are strongly advised to conserve water and asked not to shower, take baths or flush toilets.

"If it's yellow, let it mellow;, if it's brown, flush it down."

If it rains, collect water in buckets.

Residents should assume all tap water is contaminated and unsafe to drink due to damaged underground water and sewage pipes.

Before drinking, brushing teeth or washing/preparing food, all water (including tanker water) should be brought to the boil once, allowed to settle, and then brought to the boil again.

If it cannot be boiled, add one teaspoon of bleach to 10 litres of water and leave it for 30 minutes.

The council will intensively test water supplies and advise when the water is safe to use without boiling.

Clean water is being distributed from the following schools: Christchurch South Intermediate School, Selwyn St; St Albans, Cranford/English Park; Richmond, Alexandra/Pavitt; Hammersley, Quinns Rd; Banks Avenue, Banks Ave; Mairehau, Innes/Mahars; Burwood, New Brighton; Queenspark, Queenspark Ave; North New Brighton, Leaver Tce; Waimairi, Tilman/Blighs; Wharenui, Matipo St; West Spreydon, Lyttelton St; Somerfield, Somerfield St; Cashmere, Hackthorne Rd; Beckenham, Norwood; St Martins, Albert/Roscoe; Woolston, Ferry/Hopkins; Mt Pleasant, Hornbrook; Sumner, Hardwick/Colenso; Bromley, Kawau; North Linwood, Woodham Rd and Cowles Stadium, 170 Pages Rd.

Water trailers are at Harper Ave, city; Shirley Primary School; South Brighton School; Phillipstown School; Nursery Rd; Wainoni School.

The New Zealand Army has desalination plants processing 5000 litres of water per hour. These are available in Lyttelton and New Brighton. Residents must take their own containers and boil all water before use.

EMERGENCY HELP

The Canterbury Earthquake Government helpline is 0800 779997 (this includes questions about any Civil Defence payments).

Work and Income offices have been set up to operate from 9am to 5pm weekdays and 9am to 4pm weekends.

They are based at:

Hornby – 25 Shands Rd; Riccarton – 76 Riccarton Rd; Rangiora – Corner of Good and Blake streets; Kaiapoi Community Link, Unit 9, The Crossings, 77 Hilton St; Ashburton Community Link, corner of Glass and Moore streets.

SUPPORT AND COUNSELLING SERVICES

Call 0800777846.MAORI SUPPORTSupport for iwi, Maori and Pacific residents can be reached at Te Runanga O Ngaitahu 08005248248 or Te Puni Kokiri 0800875839 or 0276009412

ETHNIC SUPPORT

Support for migrants and refugees is available either on the government helpline (0800779997) or at Settlement Support New Zealand 0800776948.

REST HOMES

Almost 200 rest-home residents have been transferred out of Christchurch. Family members of evacuated residents with concerns can call 033378937.

MEALS ON WHEELS

Meals on Wheels deliveries are scheduled to resume tomorrow.

DONATIONS

The Christchurch City Council Rebuilding Christchurch Fund has been launched to help repair and rebuild Christchurch and minimise the financial burden on city residents.

Appeal details:

Account Name: Christchurch City Council Rebuilding Christchurch Fund

Account Bank: ASB

Account Number: 12-3441-0025506-00

STUDENT VOLUNTEER ARMY

Anyone needing help to clear silt and tidy up their properties can visit www.sva.org.nz or text #HELPME followed by a space, your name, address and type of help needed to 5627.

- The Press