EQC releases results of world-leading land strengthening researchThe Earthquake Commission (EQC) has just released a report on more practical and affordable ways of making residential land less vulnerable to liquefaction.

“The report summarises two years of world-leading research through our Ground Improvement Programme, involving New Zealand and international experts,” EQC General Manager Reinsurance, Research and Education Dr Hugh Cowan says.

The research has identified repair methods previously only viable for commercial-scale projects that can now be used to strengthen residential land, making the homes built on the land more resilient in future earthquakes.

“An approach that looks at the land and the house together when rebuilding a property on liquefaction-prone land will give homeowners more options and better outcomes. This is something that can now be applied throughout New Zealand and globally,” Dr Cowan says.

The findings from the research are useful to anyone nationally with an interest in understanding how residential properties can be made less vulnerable to damage from liquefaction. This includes property owners and developers, architects, engineers and builders. Over the next year EQC will be engaging with these groups more closely to ensure they are aware of the Ground Improvement Programme’s findings and understand how they can use them in their work.

A copy of the report Residential Ground Improvement: Findings from trials to manage liquefaction vulnerability, together with more information on the Ground Improvement Programme, can be found on the EQC website at www.eqc.govt.nz/GIP.

Fix and fasten preparedness campaign goes liveEQC’s new TV advertisements, which are airing throughout the country, encourage people to think about earthquake preparedness in the same way as the other the things we do naturally and automatically to protect our families – like moving the handle of a boiling pot out of the reach of children.

Cantabrians lead the way in earthquake preparedness, but there is still more do to. For information on how to fix and fasten your home go to www.eqc.govt.nz/fixfasten.

ILV community meetingsA 90-minute meeting, featuring presentations on Increased Liquefaction Vulnerability (ILV) land damage from EQC Head of Canterbury Land, Keith Land, and EQC’s engineers, Tonkin + Taylor.

Monday 16 November, 7pm Burwood Christian Centre, 52 Bassett Street

Tuesday 17 November, 10am South New Brighton Community Hall, 74 Beatty Street

Monday 23 November, 7pm Burwood Christian Centre, 52 Bassett Street

Tuesday 24 November, 10am Parkview Community Lounge, 75 Queenspark Drive

Thursday 26 November, 10am North New Brighton Hall, 93 Marine Parade

Friday 27 November, 7pm Beulah Church, St Albans, 140 Springfield Road

Monday 30 November, 7pm Burwood Christian Centre, 52 Bassett Street

To reserve a place, please visit www.eqc.govt.nz/ILV or call 0800 326 243.

Left to right – Leanne Curtis (CanCERN) and Paula McPhail (EQC)

Winning hard yards with community advocatesAs CanCERN shuts its doors for the last time in December, the Earthquake Commission (EQC) recognises the important role this group of community-minded people played in improving EQC’s customer focus.

CanCERN is one of a group of independent Canterbury advocacy agencies who meet regularly with EQC to provide feedback on its work in Canterbury. They have championed the use of everyday language, more regular customer contact and relevant, consistent information.

They especially pushed for more face-to-face opportunities for customers to get answers on their individual claims, and the chance to help as independent advocates in the most challenging EQC-customer situations.

It has not been an easy path, says EQC Chief Executive, Ian Simpson. “As I recall, we invited these groups to meet us after some of their members protested outside our offices in Christchurch. We recognised quickly that, whatever we were doing wasn’t working, and we had to listen and learn.”

One of the most vocal critics of EQC was Leanne Curtis of CanCERN. “The EQC customer advocates group meetings never happened particularly well at the beginning, but the attitude changed and we were able to help EQC think through the strategies from a resident’s perspective,“ Ms Curtis says.

“However, If the benefit of strategies did not trickle down to the homeowner – they’d be irrelevant. I have seen what some EQC staff tried to do to help customers, and they need support from the rest of the organisation.”

Ms Curtis predicts that 2016 will be one of the most difficult for EQC and other rebuild agencies. “You’ll be dealing with the hardest, most exhausted customers and this makes ties between community advocates and EQC even more important.”

“CanCERN will be gone, but that community voice is important because you want help from solutions-based people who are focused on making things better for the homeowners.”

One of the biggest milestones for the groups was their input to EQC plans for settling earthquake damage claims on land, in particular properties with Increased Vulnerability to Flooding, and Liquefaction (IFV and ILV).

The first “Land Hubs” were launched at the end of 2014, in which Government agencies and the community advocates groups made themselves available in a church hall to provide information on land. This template proved so successful that a more permanent information centre was set up under the In The Know Hub brand, at the Eastgate Shopping Centre in April 2015. The hub is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, at the same location to the end of the year.

Paula McPhail, EQC’s Canterbury Customer Solutions Manager says: “EQC remains fully committed to continuing to work with these groups, because it’s working for our customers. What form that will take though, with CanCERN closing and some of the other agencies preparing to reduce their footprint in Christchurch, is still being discussed. For now though, we’re happy to keep talking to customers.”

EQC UPDATE KEEPING YOU INFORMED | NOVEMBER 2015

0800 DAMAGE (0800 326 243) OR VISIT WWW.EQC.GOVT.NZ