Numerous studies have shown that urban soils can contain elevated concentrations of heavy metals (HMs). Christchurch, New Zealand, is a relatively young city (150 years old) with a population of 390,000. Most soils in Christchurch are sub-urban, with food production in residential gardens a popular activity. Earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 have resulted in the re-zoning of 630 ha of Christchurch, with suggestions that some of this land could be used for community gardens. We aimed to determine the HM concentrations in a selection of suburban gardens in Christchurch as well as in soils identified as being at risk of HM contamination due to hazardous former land uses or nearby activities. Heavy metal concentrations in suburban Christchurch garden soils were higher than normal background soil concentrations. Some 46% of the urban garden samples had Pb concentrations higher than the residential land use national standard of 210 mg kg⁻¹, with the most contaminated soil containing 2615 mg kg⁻¹ Pb. Concentrations of As and Zn exceeded the residential land use national standards (20 mg kg⁻¹ As and 400 mg kg⁻¹ Zn) in 20% of the soils. Older neighbourhoods had significantly higher soil HM concentrations than younger neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods developed pre-1950s had a mean Pb concentration of 282 mg kg⁻¹ in their garden soils. Soil HM concentrations should be key criteria when determining the future land use of former residential areas that have been demolished because of the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Redeveloping these areas as parklands or forests would result in less human HM exposure than agriculture or community gardens where food is produced and bare soil is exposed.
A copy of a letter from Empowered Christchurch which was sent to Gerry Brownlee, Minsiter for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, on 15 April 2014. The letter lodges an Official Information Act request about the remediation of land that is subject to liquefaction and flooding.
A collapsed section of the Cranmer Courts on the corner of Montreal Street and Kilmore Street. Safety fences have been erected around the building to prevent the public getting close enough to it to be endangered by falling masonry in the event of another earthquake.
Extensive damage caused by liquefaction in Bracken Street, Avonside. A pile of liquefaction can be seen in front of this house. After the earthquake, many people had to dig this silt out of their properties and place it on the road to be collected.
A photograph of the largest section of the Townsend Telescope recovered from the rubble of the Observatory tower. The telescope was housed in the tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. It was severely damaged when the tower collapsed during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A PDF copy of a proposal prepared by Anglican Advocacy (formerly the Anglican Life Social Justice Unit) and Te Whare Roimata to MBIE and CERA in 2012. The report outlines how social housing could look in Christchurch's Inner City East following the Christchurch earthquakes.
A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office being photographed in front of a truck. The volunteers are preparing to travel to Christchurch to help out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. In the background is the Wellington Emergency Management Office building.
A photograph of members of the Wellington Emergency Management Office at a graduation ceremony in the Wellington Town Hall. The volunteers were awarded certificates of appreciation at the ceremony, for their work in the emergency response to the 22 February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch.
A photograph of a car on Manchester Street which has been crushed by falling rubble. Bricks and other rubble from the earthquake-damaged shops above are scattered across the road in front. The word "clear" has been spray-painted on the side of the car.
A section of the footpath on Galbraith Avenue in Avonside that has been covered in dirt. Behind it is one of the septic tanks that were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team walking across Manchester Street. In the background is a block of earthquake-damaged buildings. Large sections of the buildings have collapsed and the rubble has spilled onto the street below.
A close-up photograph of parts of the Townsend Telescope recovered from the rubble of the Observatory tower. The telescope was housed in the tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. It was severely damaged when the tower collapsed during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The memorial table at Peter Majendie's installation '185 Empty Chairs', which remembers the 185 who died as a result of the 22nd February earthquake. The site is the demolition site of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church".
A view down a New Brighton Road next to the river. On the left sandbags have been placed on the banks of the river to prevent flooding onto the road. The earthquake caused the ground to subside and sink, making this area susceptible to flooding.
A view down a New Brighton Road next to the river. On the left sandbags have been placed on the banks of the river to prevent flooding onto the road. The earthquake caused the ground in this area to subside, making it susceptible to flooding.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Cranmer Courts on the corner of Montreal and Kilmore Streets. One of the gables of the section of the building on the corner has crumbled. Ties have been placed around all of the gables as bracing.
A photograph of a portable shower unit set up in Hagley Park for the emergency management personnel who travelled to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. A clothes line has been set up by tying ropes to the shower unit and a digger.
A photograph looking north-west down High Street towards the intersection with Manchester Street. Rubble from several earthquake-damaged buildings lines both sides of the street. In the distance members of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team and several excavators are working.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Knox Church on the corner of Bealey Avenue and Victoria Street. The gable walls have crumbled, exposing the wooden structure inside. Wire fencing, road cones and cordon tape have been placed around the building as a cordon.
A photograph looking west down Lichfield Street towards the intersection of Manchester Street. Bricks and other rubble from the earthquake-damaged buildings on either side of the road have scattered on the footpath and street. Road cones and plastic fencing has been used as cordons.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a Stonehurst Accommodation building on Gloucester Street. The bottom storey of the building has collapsed and the top two storeys are resting on the rubble. The closest wall of the building has also collapsed, exposing the rooms inside.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to Knox Church on the corner of Bealey Avenue and Victoria Street. The upper section of the walls have crumbled, the bricks falling onto the footpath. USAR codes have been spray-painted on the lower section of the wall.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The memorial table at Peter Majendie's installation '185 Empty Chairs', which remembers the 185 who died as a result of the 22nd February earthquake. The site is the demolition site of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church".
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the buildings next to the Canterbury Trade Union Centre on Armagh Street. The front walls of both buildings have collapsed, and bricks spill onto the footpath. Cordon tape and road cones have been placed around the buildings.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the buildings next to the Canterbury Trade Union Centre on Armagh Street. The front walls of both buildings have collapsed, and bricks spill onto the footpath. Cordon tape and road cones have been placed around the buildings.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a building on the corner of Barbadoes and Armagh Streets. The top storey of the building has crumbled, spilling rubble onto the pavement. Steel fences and road cones have been placed around the rubble as a cordon.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a block of buildings on Hereford Street. Large sections of the buildings have collapsed and the rubble has spilled onto the footpath and street in front. USAR codes have been spray-painted on the front of Calendar Girls.
A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office being photographed in front of a truck. The volunteers are preparing to travel to Christchurch to help out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. In the background is the Wellington Emergency Management Office building.
A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office being photographed in front of a truck. The volunteers are preparing to travel to Christchurch to help out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. In the background is the Wellington Emergency Management Office building.
A photograph of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team standing in a car park on Lichfield Street. The team are wearing face and gas masks, hard hats, safety glasses, knee pads, and rubber gloves. In the background are several earthquake-damaged buildings.