Smorgasboarder_11_May-2012

“Emerging from the rubble is a
newer, vibrant and funky city
centre that features sturdy, lowlevel
shipping containers used in
creative ways.”
As we leave the city centre, we pass through what is deemed the
Red Zone - an area that snakes along the Avon River from the CBD
to the coast. Around 6600 homes have been marked for demolition
or already have been. A further 600+ homes in the Orange Zone
border this and their fate is still yet to be determined.
Our drive takes us past vacant lots where buildings have been
reduced to nothing. Bracing holds others up, houses are tagged
with the obligatory spraypaint inspection markings and the road is
buckled. It is hard to fathom the magnitude of what took place.
We eventually make our way to the historic port town of Lyttleton,
which was near the February 2011 quake’s epicentre. We had
intended to pass through on our way to the beachside suburb of
Sumner for a surf, but many detours later we found ourselves
winding through incredibly narrow streets, high above the port in
our 6m long motorhome.
Heartstopping is not the word to describe it as Mark jumped out
to navigate me within inches of a parked car on my left and even
closer to the remains of a house that had slipped down the cliff
on my right. A little further down the track we came across a
roadblock, which sent us back the exact same way with an even
heightened amount of adrenalin.
Eventually we made it to Sumner and were rewarded with some
of the most fun, mellow waves we experienced all trip. Amidst all
the work going on in and around the area it almost felt like a guilty
pleasure, but a pleasure it was.
ACROSS: Scenes like this demolished lot play out all across
the city and leave you with a lump in your throat.
TOP: The new city centre is a cheerful tribute to fighting spirit.
ABOVE: In amongst the chaos, the people of the city have still
taken time to beautify what they can and show support for
each other in so many ways.
may/jun 2012
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