Woods Megan: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWoods Megan: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 20 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7345. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour—Wigram) to the Minister responsible for the Earthquake Commission: How many homes have been inspected by the Earthquake Commission’s team of 35 staff set up to deal with defective repairs since this team was announced 5 weeks ago?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister responsible for the Earthquake Commission): The team has been in place for 2 weeks. When the team was announced it was publicly stated that it would be in place by the end of October. One hundred and forty-five homes have been inspected since the team was established and it is expected that the team will complete 80 inspections a week once fully operating. The “jack and pack” remediation is still expected to cost up to $1000 per site which will be covered by the contractor or by Fletcher Construction.Dr Megan Woods: What is the forecast number of all remedial requests that the Earthquake Commission expects to receive until 30 March 2016?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: That would depend on the category of the request that is being made. It could be for example that rubbish has been left on the site. It could be that there is some defective paintwork. It could be a range of minor things. The total number is currently 6736 out of some 69000 jobs.Dr Megan Woods: I seek leave to table a paper prepared by the Earthquake Commission showing a forecast of 7357 remedial repair requests forecast dated 13 August 2015.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table—Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I will allow the member to make a comment.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: It might help the member to know that that was a forecast in August. The figure I have just given is the up-to-date figure today.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member has sought leave to table the document. I will put the leave. The House can accept it if it wants. Leave is sought to table that particular Earthquake Commission document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Dr Megan Woods: How has the modelling changed since the report that I referred to of August 2015 of 116 requests a day coming in—has that modelling changed now by September 2015?Mr SPEAKER: Order! There was a mix of questions in there. I will get the member to restate the question.Dr Megan Woods: OK thank you. Has the basis of the modelling of the figure of 7357—the August 2015 figure—changed? Is there now a new weekly expected number of complaints to come in?Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Gerry Brownlee—either of those two supplementary questions.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The basis has not changed but the results certainly have.Dr Megan Woods: When does the Earthquake Commission expect to complete the inspection and remediation of the requests it has forecast by 30 March 2016?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The forecasts are still pretty much on track for that date in 2016 but some types of remediation work or areas where there has been some sort of request of the Earthquake Commission or where the Earthquake Commission has gone out to have another look at work should be organised by Christmas. There will of course be people who cannot fit into that programme for various reasons and that will be largely their choice.Dr Megan Woods: Will he give a definite date when the forecast 6000 remedial repair requests will be completed by?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Given that it is a forecast number all I can give is a forecast date. The forecast date is 18 March 2016 but do not be surprised if it takes a little longer because often when the Earthquake Commission approaches people about doing remedial work they will have reasons why they cannot get it done at a particular time.Dr Megan Woods: Does he think Cantabrians have a right to hear some certainty from him as to when this issue will be dealt with and completed or is their frustration at the long delays and dodgy repairs just more excitement?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The question does not specify an issue and refers to “dodgy repairs”. The fact is that the repairs that have been found to be less than desirable are being fixed. That does not seem to be the hallmark of a dodgy operation.