A group of Christchurch residents feel the council has abandoned them as they are still without basic services almost three weeks after the magnitude 7.1 earthquake.
About 100 residents gathered in the suburb of Avonside for a rally today as an emotional council water and waste manager Mark Christison explained the council's position.
The event was organised by Avonside resident Angela Wasley on behalf of the group Action for Christchurch East. The residents in Avonside, a central city suburb hit hard by the September 4 quake, still can't use their toilets, showers or wash clothes or dishes.
"There are many who do not qualify for help from local government agencies or the earthquake fund due to massive waiting lists for structural assessments and overloading of current systems," Ms Wasley said in a letter to Christchurch residents.
"We will not be able to live here while repairs are carried out and cannot afford to pay mortgages and rent somewhere else in the meantime. The bottom line is we have little children in unsafe houses with unfit conditions and we can't get answers," Ms Wasley said today.
There were many areas still without sewerage or drainage, some also had no water or power, she said.
The residents said it had been almost a week since they had received a progress report from council.
Mr Christison told the rally that recovery was well underway but the task of repairing Christchurch was enormous and the rest of the city and country might not recognise that.
"Typically the city renews about 4km of sewer a year in its network, the damage from this earthquake could be anywhere up to 100km."
Mr Christison promised to personally make sure that at the very least there would be better communication between the council and residents.
Councillor Yani Johansen told Radio New Zealand it had been a frustrating time for residents.
There was a lack of a strategic response for what was a frustrating time for a lot of people.
Council needed to improve the communication to local neighbourhood about what was working and what the timetable was for action, Mr Johansen said.
The Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Commission today announced that those suffering hardship in Canterbury can apply for grants of $1000.
"We know there are Cantabrians who have suffered substantial health, welfare or financial hardship as a result of the quake, and these new grants are designed to support them," chairman Sir John Hansen said.
Applications will be considered on a case by case basis and are separate from emergency grants.
