Ohau demolitions almost done
Demolitions in the fire-ravaged Lake O¯ hau Village are nearing completion with only two properties out of 38 still to be cleared and applications already coming in to rebuild.
‘‘From an overall perspective [the demolition] is going very well’’ but there is ‘‘still things to work through over the next six months,’’ Lichelle Guyan, the Waitaki District Council’s Lake O¯ hau recovery manager, said.
She is working with the owners of the two properties yet to be cleared to develop a timeframe for demolition, but expects they will be clear in the next couple of weeks.
She said the Waitaki District Council had so far received one formal application to rebuild, made soon after the October 4 fire that destroyed or damaged 48 structures in the alpine village, but had received ‘‘quite a few inquiries’’.
Guyan said she expects residents are designing their rebuild, and applications will soon start to ‘‘trickle through’’.
She also said public facilities have been fully restored to the village.
Guyan said at this stage there are no obvious reasons why a rebuild couldn’t go ahead, but that a Fire and Emergency NZ report into the fire which is expected ‘‘in the new year’’ might include recommendations for how properties should be rebuilt to minimise fire risk.
Guyan also said the fire investigators’ report into the cause of the fire is also expected early next year.
‘‘From an operational perspective we’ve done pretty well to get things through on the timetable we did, which is down to contractors and residents and insurers getting along, and I want to thank everyone for their work,’’ she said.
On Sunday, the Insurance Council of New Zealand released figures saying insurance payouts for the O¯ hau fire had reached $34.8 million, making it one of the most expensive fires for insurance claims in recent history.