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Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2012

Cost of Canterbury Earthquakes to the Crown

The Government is making a significant contribution to the rebuild in Canterbury, with latest estimates for the total cost to the Crown at $13.1 billion.

While the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund remains at $5.5 billion, total estimates of existing policies are now expected to fully utilise the Fund. Of the $5.5 billion, the expected costs of policy decisions total $4.7 billion and $0.8 billion is set aside as an estimation contingency to reflect the significant uncertainty.

With the Fund fully allocated, new policy decisions, or increases in costs above the estimation contingency that are not managed within existing budget allowances, will adversely affect the Crown's fiscal position.

There remains a significant risk that the final cost to the Crown will exceed the $13.1 billion cost estimate included in these forecasts. The Specific Fiscal Risks chapter includes discussion on the risks associated with the Canterbury earthquakes (page 61).

The tables below show the latest estimates of the net impact of the earthquakes included in these forecasts.

Table 2.5 - Net earthquake expenses
Year ending 30 June
$millions
2011
Actual
2012
Actual
2013
Forecast
2014
Forecast
2015
Forecast
2016
Forecast
2017
Forecast
Total
HYEFU
Total
BEFU
Local infrastructure 160 721 214 152 152 100 50 1,549 1,643
Welfare support 220 23 35 23 6 307 233
Southern Response support package 355 156 (98) (41) (33) (37) (2) 300 148
Land zoning 653 258 199 10 1,120 1,067
Other costs 205 121 589 593 (41) (37) 8 1,438 852
Estimation contingency 793 793
Yet to be allocated 1,564
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund 1,593 1,279 1,732 737 84 26 56 5,507 5,507
EQC 7,471 662 (164) (255) (68) (114) 7,532 7,445
Other SOEs and CEs 23 (41) 24 (116) 80 57 22 49 23
Total Crown 9,087 1,900 1,592 366 96 (31) 78 13,088 12,975

Source: The Treasury

Table 2.6 - Net cash payments
Year ending 30 June
$millions
2011
Actual
2012
Actual
2013
Forecast
2014
Forecast
2015
Forecast
2016
Forecast
2017
Forecast
Total
HYEFU
Total
BEFU
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund 508 1,312 1,399 1,027 488 602 171 5,507 5,507
EQC 1,178 2,231 817 1,729 1,006 571 7,532 7,445
Other SOEs and CEs 23 (18) (2) (142) 28 79 31 (1) 23
Total Crown 1,709 3,525 2,214 2,614 1,522 1,252 202 13,038 12,975

Source: The Treasury

A discussion about the total economic impact of the Canterbury earthquakes can be found in the Economic Outlook chapter on page 13.

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