Quakes Rock Christchurch (Dec 2010/Feb 2011/Feb 2016)

[Ross]

We have hit a milestone of having had 10000 quakes since the Sept 2010 one.

Sent from my U8180 using ProBoards

[Libby]

Wow. Do you think they're ever going to go away?

[Ross]

Sadly it has been announced today that our beloved Christchurch Cathedral is to be demolished as too badly damaged.

[comet]

Mar 2, 2012 8:22:09 GMT Ross said:

Sadly it has been announced today that our beloved Christchurch Cathedral is to be demolished as too badly damaged.

Hi Ross,

I am so sorry to hear this,
I spent a very pleasant day in the Cathedral when Dame Malvina had her concert there.

I do hope they will consider re building it, even at another site. It is possible, but would require great determination on the part of the people of Christchurch.

[martindn]

What a pity. Now I'll never see it for real. I hope they rebuild it. But that will take years I'm sure, even after waiting for the quakes to stop.

Martin D

[Martin]

Sad news. It is going to be demolished by hand (that is, not using any equipment) and then rebuilt. Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews says a new cathedral with a different design would be built in its place.

Martin

[Bamafan]

I hope at least build something similar to it, because it was a very beautiful building. My sympathies to all of those in Chch.

-Best from Bama

[Sing]

Oh no! I really hope sometime soon things will start to slow down and settle, and that one day it can be rebuilt...I hope they can at least build something similar- to give a similar feel to the city...From the photos I've seen it looked like such a huge part of the city

best wishes
Sing

[Dave]

Thanks Ross for the news, I am sorry to hear this.

The story has made the main BBC News broadcast this evening in the UK, their video footage shows it to be in a pretty bad state. It's a very sad day, even from this distance.

Dave

[stevemacdonald]

Mar 2, 2012 8:22:09 GMT Ross said:

Sadly it has been announced today that our beloved Christchurch Cathedral is to be demolished as too badly damaged.

I hope they don't simply reduce it to rubble and cart the debris away, because those bricks and stones could be auctioned off in fund-raising. Having a piece of the cathedral on one's mantle or desk could serve as a poignant reminder of its fabled past. This might seems vulturish to some, but I think it would ultimately become part of the healing process.

[Richard]

Here's the full story from BBC News:

Demolition for quake-hit Christchurch cathedral

2 March 2012 Last updated at 06:15

Officials have confirmed that Christchurch cathedral will be demolished after the 2011 earthquake rendered it beyond repair.

Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews said a new cathedral with a different design would be built in its place.

Conservationists, however, have asked for the plan to be reconsidered.

The quake, which struck on 22 February, was New Zealand's worst natural disaster in 80 years and left 185 people dead.

The cathedral, built in the late 19th Century, is a Christchurch landmark.

But the 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which levelled thousands of buildings in the city, badly damaged its structure and it was further weakened by numerous aftershocks.

Bishop Matthews said that no "bulldozers or wrecking balls" would be used, and that the cathedral would be deconstructed "with the utmost care and respect".

"We acknowledge the high level of community interest and sense of ownership as the cathedral was both an iconic building and a place of regular worship by many," she said in a statement.

"However, this is now a very dangerous building that needs to be made safe."

The statement gave no timescale for the demolition and rebuilding. Efforts would be made to retrieve heritage items including stained glass windows and memorial stones, it said.

"We are now looking to the future and creating a beautiful, inspiring, safe new cathedral but we understand it will take some time for any of these decisions to be made," the bishop said.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said the decision to demolish the cathedral was "heartbreaking" and was "not an easy decision for many of us to accept".

Conservationists, however, are asking the church to reconsider its decision. They say that officials should explore more options to try and keep much of the current structure, New Zealand media reports said.

Richard

[martindn]

I guess the new one will be built to withstand earthquakes. Siesmic buildings are expensive, and that requirement puts constraints on what can be built. I guess that is the reason why it has to be a different design to the old one.

Martin D

[Ross]

Today we had the strongest quake in over 3 months with a 5.2 at 2:44pm off the coast of Christchurch. I didn't even feel it where I work but it was strong in town. Hope Hayley wasn't too scared if she is still in Christchurch.

[Ross]

Yesterday was the second anniversary of the Sept 4th 7.1 quake in Christchurch. And Mother Nature celebrated it by a huge hail storm at 6pm. Lots of lightning and big hail stones up to the size of golf balls.

Today I went to Hagley Park to go on one of the buses which tour inside the cordoned off CBD to see how things are looking.


Spring in Hagley Park although these daffodils were a bit battered from the hail


One of the many buildings being demolished


Only the facade remains on this buiding


The battered Cathedral which will be slowly dismantled



Here "Twinkle Toes" is biting into this skyscraper

[martindn]

It is so sad to see this. But be optimistic. Christchurch will be rebuilt. Thanks Ross.

Martin D