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Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

The Canterbury region of New Zealand experienced a sequence of strong earthquakes during 2010-2011. Responses included government acquisition of many thousands of residential properties in the city of Christchurch in areas with severe earthquake effects. A large and contiguous tract of this ‘red zoned’ land lies in close proximity to the Ōtākaro / Avon River and is known as the Avon-Ōtākaro Red Zone (AORZ). The focus of this study was to provide an overview of the floodplain characteristics of the AORZ and review of international experience in ecological restoration of similar river margin and floodplain ecosystems to extract restoration principles and associated learnings. Compared to pre-earthquake ground levels, the dominant trend in the AORZ is subsidence, together with lateral movement especially in the vicinity of waterway. An important consequence of land subsidence in the lower Ōtākaro / Avon River is greater exposure to flooding and the effects of sea level rise. Scenario modelling for sea level rise indicates that much of the AORZ is exposed to inundation within a 100 year planning horizon based on a 1 m sea level rise. As with decisions on built infrastructure, investments in nature-based ‘green infrastructure’ also require a sound business case including attention to risks posed by climate change. Future-proofing of the expected benefits of ecological restoration must therefore be secured by design. Understanding and managing the hydrology and floodplain dynamics are vital to the future of the AORZ. However, these characteristics are shared by other floodplain and river restoration projects worldwide. Identifying successful approaches provides a useful a source of useful information for floodplain planning in the AORZ. This report presents results from a comparative case study of three international examples to identify relevant principles for large-scale floodplain management at coastal lowland sites.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Looking east down Hereford Street from Colombo Street. A public walkway down Colombo Street to a small viewing area in the Square was opened up for a few weekends to allow the public to see inside the Red Zone. The partially demolished Grand Chancellor is visible in the background.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Looking down High Street from Colombo Street. A public walkway down Colombo Street to a small viewing area in the Square was opened up for a few weekends to allow the public to see inside the Red Zone. The partially demolished Grand Chancellor is visible in the background.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Warped bike stands and liquefaction silt on the corner of High, Colombo and Hereford streets. A public walkway down Colombo Street to a small viewing area in the Square was opened up for a few weekends to allow the public to see inside the Red Zone.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A snapshot from GPS Boomerang's SmartBird flight over the Christchurch red zone on 23 December 2012, looking over Cathedral Square with the Christchurch Cathedral, the Post Office Building and the Chalice visible. The Holiday Inn has been demolished and the demolition of Clarendon Towers is almost complete.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

For the first time in November 2011, Christchurch residents finally had the opportunity to see the earthquake-damaged city centre on the Red Zone bus tours organised by CERA. The podium which formerly held the Godley statue. Behind is the Regent Theatre dome which has been removed from the building.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A view down Worcester Street towards the Regent Theatre building. Tiles have fallen away from the Regent Theatre's red dome. In the foreground the Clarendon Hotel can be seen, with a large crack where the facade has pulled away from the rest of the building.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "As we went by, we recorded the current state of the site of the urgent demolition in Redcliffs from last week. To our surprise when processing the photo, we noticed how damaged the surrounding houses are, particularly the house with the red tiles".

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A red-stickered building on Canterbury Street in Lyttelton. The building's facade has been propped up with timber, steel and concrete block bracing, and one of its windows has been weather proofed with plywood. Wire fencing has been place around the building as a cordon.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Ngai Tahu elders performing a powhiri to welcome workers of the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT). Mayor Bob Parker is standing to the right. The ceremony was held in Burwood Park.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph submitted by Philip Broderick Willis to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "We took this photo over a year after the quake. It was in a red-stickered restaurant in Cashel Mall. You can see exactly what the people in this building were doing on Feb 22.".

Images, UC QuakeStudies

St John's Presbyterian Church on Winchester Street in Lyttelton. The ground around the church is strewn with masonry that has fallen from the church's walls and collapsed tower. The building's front door has been red-stickered and a sign that reads "No entry" is stuck to it.