Those living in "residential red zones" such as Bexley would now be able to "cash up and go fairly quickly", Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee confirmed yesterday.
"That is the correct decision; that is the only decision," Roddy Butt (42) told the Otago Daily Times from his home in Velsheda St, which borders the Bexley wetland.
Mr Butt, who works for the New Brighton Rugby Club, said the decision would allow his family to stay in the eastern part of Christchurch, but only, "if we can find an available home".
"We want to go as soon as practicable."
The Bexley resident of three and a-half years said there was a good mix of people in the area, but while his family were "young and mobile", older residents might struggle to rebuild lives in new communities.
"I would feel funny to see this place bowled over. But it is a no-brainer; there is too much moisture in the ground ... even minor tremors bring up liquefaction."
Mr Butt said said he was confident people would remain in the city, and doubted cashed-up residents would move in large numbers out of the city, or further afield.
One Bexley resident who has had enough is unemployed fish and chip shop worker Rick Sharpveld (50).
"This announcement means I can now make decisions. I may look at possibilities overseas, Perth is an option; that is a growing area."
He said he would wait for things to settle down before making a decision.
Bexley had been a fantastic place to bring up his two children, and it was a "strange feeling" to think of people leaving and homes being knocked down.""Bexley used be to a rubbish dump when I was a kid. It will almost go full circle."
Bread contractor Arthur Taylor (56) said the last 10 months had been like "living on a knife edge".
The mortgage-free owner of his 10-year-old brick home said while he was happy a decision had been reached he was "concerned compensation for land will not be there".
"For a section we would be looking at upwards of $200,000 ... we will lose out."
Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel said a lot of people had already left the suburb, and the Government should free up more land for those wanting to return and build.
"The devil will be in the detail."
Those who were mortgage-free were in a much better position, but for others there was too little value in their land to buy sections at today's prices.
Mr Brownlee said it could be as long as seven years before there was any rebuilding in the red zone, but Bexley residents doubted the suburb would be built on again.
