The area of Cashel Street will be restarted for pedestrians that come between Colombo Street and Oxford Terrace. This area was blocked since the Boxing Day aftershocks which will start at 9am today (Wednesday 29 December).

The public are requested to walk carefully on the streets because unsafe buildings have been closed and some building owners in the area are currently undertaking remedial work.

A number of 5000 buildings within the four streets have been calculated since the 4.9 magnitude aftershock on Sunday by the Christchurch City Council building inspectors and contracted structural engineers.

During the weekend about 115 will be repaired for its supporting damage.

There is a rechecking of buildings around Cathedral Square by Council structural engineers are currently re-examining to find out whether the Treetech New Year's Eve Celebration can still go ahead in the Square.

This afternoon the results will be declared if the celebration is taking place or not. There are no exclusions of other locations.

City Environment Group General Manager Jane Parfitt has alleged that public safety is the major worry for council.