The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera) has agreed to meet the regional branch of the Institute of Valuers over concerns about valuing properties needed for the central Christchurch blueprint.

A spokesman for Cera's Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) said it would meet the valuers to discuss issues raised in The Press yesterday.

The valuers said widespread confusion, unrealistic time frames, the lack of a dispute resolution process and a background of widely varying sale prices since the earthquakes would create chaos in the blueprint buy-up.

Previous attempts to set up a meeting with Cera had led nowhere, branch chairman Wilson Penman said.

He felt the "wheels were already falling off" the buy-up as owners refused to co-operate.

The branch was also concerned about comments by Prime Minister John Key that central city land was "not worth a lot in its current state".

Penman said yesterday he was pleased Cera appeared to be willing to listen to a wider source of input.

"There are some serious issues there, and I don't see them all being resolved in one meeting, but it starts the dialogue," he said. "With a process like this, there are always refinements to be made. We hope there will be willingness on both sides."

The CCDU spokesman said the unit had already met with "numerous groups" to get feedback on the blueprint, and it would act responsibly in its dealings with property owners.

New Zealand Institute of Valuers president Terry Naylor said there was "room for improvement" in the valuation process for the buy-up, but the institute believed things were heading in the right direction.

All property owners should get independent valuation advice and should negotiate if they were unhappy with Cera's valuation, he said.

Many central city property owners with sites earmarked for the new green frame or civic amenities are unhappy at the buy-up and the guidelines for compensation.

Cera intends to negotiate with owners first, but will compulsorily acquire sites and arrange compensation later if settlements with owners cannot be reached.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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