People with relatives buried in the Ruru lawn cemetery in Christchurch are being asked to contact Christchurch City Council, because repair of the Ballantynes memorial rose garden is due to begin.
The Ballantynes memorial rose garden. Photo: Christchurch City Council
The memorial, which collapsed in the earthquake in 2011, honours the 41 people who died in the Ballantynes department store fire in 1947.
The council wants to keep relatives of the dead informed about repairs to the memorial. But owing to the time that has elapsed since it was built, parks operations manager Ross Campbell said making direct contact with them will be very difficult.
The memorial, a stone and timber pergola with plaques listing the names of those buried in the adjoining rose garden, collapsed in the earthquake.
It will be rebuilt with steel reinforcing using as much as possible of the original stone.
Damaged memorial plaques will be restored and paving and kerbing repaired or replaced.
The restoration is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
Mr Campbell said the contract will be carefully managed to avoid disturbing visitors to the cemetery and contractors would stop work during interments.
