— Wellington, Thursday 7 July 2011.

Forecast – hot showers for Christchurch.

Three Salvation Army-funded shower units are about to open to Christchurch’s quake-affected residents.

Built from 12 metre shipping containers, each unit accommodates seven shower and changing cubicles, including one designed for wheelchair access and large enough for parents to shower their children. Gas hot water heaters will provide continuous hot water.

One unit will be operational at Cowles Stadium this week and the others will be located at New Brighton and Wilding Park. The three units cost around $97,000, which was paid for out of Salvation Army Christchurch Earthquake Appeal funds.

Salvation Army Earthquake Response Manager Bruce Coffey says The Salvation Army considered this project, which provides the most essential of services, to be critical until infrastructure in the city is brought back to pre-quake levels and aftershocks die down.

“While the water is back on in the eastern suburbs, there are some families who are faced with variable mains pressure. Hot showers during winter are a basic necessity,” he says.

The units were conceived and designed by Wellingtonian Peter Cotton, who has several decades’ experience in international emergency and disaster relief management with a number of non-governmental agencies.

Several New Zealand companies donated, or significantly discounted, fittings and equipment for the units.

Issued on the Authority of Commissioner Donald Bell (Territorial Commander) The Salvation Army, New Zealand Fiji & Tonga Territory

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