THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DEMOLITION SITE .
Photographer: Geoff Trotter
When a magnitude 6.3 earthquake destroyed Christchurch in February 2011, very few could fathom the long-term effects it would have on the east coast city. Eighteen months later and leading insurance restoration companies such as Arcbuild are being called in from overseas to assist with the monumental rebuild. In fact, it was Arcbuild’s specialist experience with natural disasters that prompted Christchurch City Council to contact Arcbuild Managing Director Darren Paxton.
“Initially we provided assistance in formulating the repairs and restoration of council owned properties as well as the residential and commercial buildings at the Christchurch City Council’s Earthquake repair RFI workshop,” said Mr Paxton, who recently returned from his second visit to Christchurch. “The next phase of our Christchurch Repair Program is currently underway.”
Arcbuild Christchurch Repair Program Senior Project Manager Andrew Wheeler, who has lived in the area for 30 years, said the city needed the company’s renowned logistical and technological expertise.
"It is really important to know you are dealing with an experienced professional because in some cases, we are seeing builders putting the words ‘project manager’ on their business cards when they have no idea what it takes to manage something of this scope, nor the time and money constraints,” Mr Wheeler said. Working with Darren Paxton brought "immense professionalism to the project" he said, adding that Arcbuild's full service BAU systems ensured an event of this scale would be handled with due diligence.
“You’ve got to minimise the waste because there’s only so much that can go around,” he said. “There are areas like the east side we can’t even get in to because roads still need to fixed and ground water, power and sewerage put on.”
The Arcbuild director recently returned to Christchurch to assess the restoration process. “There has been excellent progress in some areas of the CBD with new offices and warehouses now completed,” Mr Paxton said.
However, despite the significant amount of restoration and new builds, he said the sheer amount of damaged residential and commercial properties, not to mention cost to infrastructure, was still staggering. “One major insurance company alone has approximately 3000 Category 1 claims, and that’s complete demolition and rebuild,” Mr Paxton said.
Keep up to date with Arcbuild’s insurance restoration in Christchurch here.