Lets start this update off with positive news.

Free Parking in the City

The Central City Business Association would like to thank Council for the support shown to the business community with a positive result on the free parking initiative and the rates relief. Aside from the obvious benefits, this outcome will give a much needed boost to the mindset of the business community at this very difficult time.

We asked and were successful in getting the First Two Hours Free parking in all council off street facilities until the end of January and an additional hours free parking on all on-street parking until the end of December. This is a great result and sends a positive message from council to the business community.

Promotion & Advertising

I cannot stress enough the importance of promoting your business to your database, encouraging people back into the city. Keep your dollars in the city by supporting city businesses. Spending your discressionary dollar in the city.

Horse Drawn Tram I can confirm that the CCBA will be running the Horse Drawn Tram promotion pre Christmas to support the very important trading time. As part of the promotion we will be giveing away to one lucky passenger a Christmas family pack. We have already received a nigh for two at the Holiday Inn including breakfast. $200.00 of vouchers from Glassons. If you would like to contribute some items to be included we would appreciate your support.

 

 

 

 

 

Demolition of 160 Manchester Street
They are looking to have pedestrian access open within 4 weeks, definitely prior to Christmas. They are endeavoring to have a traffic lane open prior to Christmas as well.

This first stage of demolition is the most dangerous and also the slowest. Safety is the main concern at present. Progress will greatly increase once the two top floors are completely removed.

They are keeping the pressure on the demolition crew.

If you need to give your insurance company information on the state and placement of the cordons after the earthquake to assist in getting your loss of profit insurance, I have put together a time line for you. You can download this information from our website - http://www.christchurchcity.org.nz/cbd-earthquake-notices.php 

Map of current cordons and road closures

Manchester Street This has been covered in the demolistion of 160 Manchester Street above. Lichfield Street Intersection The end is in sight but I know this has not been an easy time for the lower High and Manchester Street businesses. The time frame to completge this intersection is set for the week of Dec 6th 2010. We have continually push to open up High and Manchester and have also asked the project team to tidy up the pedestrian access. Hereford Street This street upgrade was fraught with issues for the businesses and highlights the importance of strong project management. The street is almost completed and now the oxford Street tram extension is blocking one lane. This is due for completion the first week in December. High Street There is still a bit of work to finish this street upgrade but impact in the businesses has been kept to a minimum.

Christmas Trading Hours
We have posted recommended Christmas Trading hours on our website. These are based on Ballantynes trading hours with the exception of 1st January. To view these hours clink on the link: http://www.christchurchcity.org.nz/trading-hours.php

Business Assistance
Services specially designed to assist in the recovery include:
Biz
A specialist information and referral service funded by NZTE to help people start and develop businesses, providing information, contacts, training and advice. Biz has a nationwide network of walk-in information centres, an 0800 42 49 46 help line phone service and a website www.business.govt.nz (which is run by the Ministry of Economic Development). 

Business Mentors
Business Mentors New Zealand is offering fully subsidised (funded by NZTE) registration for any business affected by the Canterbury Earthquake.  You are able to apply and receive free mentoring assistance, whereby a mentor will be assigned to personally to talk through your own specific issues and put in place a personalised recovery plan.  Call 0800 209 209 and/or check out the website for more information www.businessmentors.org.nz There are still a few courses left so check out if there is one suitable for your to attend at http://www.christchurchcity.org.nz/eq-recovery-training.php

Training
NZTE is funding Earthquake Recovery Training workshops, which are being run through CDC and CECC.  These workshops are free to attend.  The full programme of training workshops and registration details is available at click on the link to view - http://www.christchurchcity.org.nz/eq-recovery-training.php   

Insurance Support

A meeting was held with Nicky Wagner and Mayor Parker regading the isurance issues. I have included the meeting minutes below.

There is a follow-up meeting Monday 22nd November, 7:30am at Nicky Wagners office and our Mayor will be present. 
 
Minutes of the Meeting
Monday 7th November 2010

VENUE: Nicky Wagner’s Electorate Office, 222 Bealey Ave
MEETING OPENED: 7:30am

The meeting was called because of concerns about the city businesses after the earthquake and going forward.

The attendees were a good cross section of central businesses and those who work with them. Included were some landlords, the CCBA, a representative from Insurance brokers and council staff concerned with the rebuilding and restoration of the city.

KEY ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED – BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM
Short Term
· Insurance
· Access – including parking
· Promotion of the central city businesses

Long Term
· Future of the city
· The need for regular meetings going forward.

Insurance – the discussion highlighted that for many people the Insurance companies are not paying out on what they expected. Every policy is different and insurance companies are skilled negotiators. There was concern that the government wage subsidy was being docked from insurance payments. It was not what the government intended.

Businesses need to work through the process with their companies but would like a support framework to help if negotiations run into trouble. The Brokers Association runs a dispute service but the Insurance Ombudsman only works with residential cases.

There were discussions about forming a sub-group to work in this area. Anyone who would like to be involved, please contact Nicky.

Access – Many businesses are open and trading but business is down because of the lack of access. The hold-up is often the property owners and Insurance companies making on-going decisions. The MLC building area is a real problem and the situation is made more complex because some businesses are better off kept closed until it is fully removed.

Mayor Bob Parker agreed to work on:
1) Cleaning up as much rubble as possible
2) Keeping protective fencing to a minimum
3) Doing more temporary remediation work while final decisions about buildings are made

Parking – Take steps to make parking easier and cheaper

Promotion – Promotional efforts are being rewarded. Publicity over the weekend in the Press brought more customers. The meeting asked the council to increase promotion to encourage people into the city and to publicise access routes.

All attendees are committed to the central city and concerned about its long term future. See this crisis as opportunity to make long term change. We are very aware that we need a vibrant, busy city and are concerned that with the Rugby World Cup around the corner we need to mover rapidly to restore the city so we can be great hosts and can capitalise on the influx of people.

Mayor Bob Parker invited us to meet in his office and so we will set up a regular time. Nicky to work on that with his office.

MEETING CLOSED: 9:05am