The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) has commissioned a study that will help determine how to mitigate the danger of rockfalls in the Port Hills area outside Christchurch.

The hills rose an average half a metre in the February 22 2011 earthquake, with the shaking dislodging huge boulders which bounced down the hills, killing five people and smashing into buildings.

CERA CEO Roger Sutton says dealing with the ongoing risk of cliff collapse, landslide and rockfall is complex. The study, to be completed by the end of April, will identify potential risk and possible barriers that may be suitable to protect properties.

“Then economic viability and time required to provide such protection will have to be considered before any works are commissioned,” he said.

Last Friday, March 23, marked the final date for earthquake claims to be lodged with the Earthquake Commission (EQC).

The EQC gives householders three months to claim and since the Christchurch series began in September 2010 it has only once, briefly, not had an earthquake claims period open.

The last claims deadline is for the earthquake on December 23. The EQC has paid out more than $NZ4 million ($3.1 million) on that event out of a total $NZ2.9 billion ($2.3 billion) since September 2010.