Half the cordons around the inner city red zone in Christchurch could be gone by Christmas, under a timetable proposed by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.
CERA on Saturday issued a draft recovery strategy which has the aim of lifting all cordons by April.
Demolitions manager Warwick Isaacs says that while the targets are tight, they are realistic.
Individual cordons will remain around buildings like the Grand Chancellor and Crown Plaza while they are still being worked on.
The draft strategy also outlines plans for the reconstruction, rebuilding and long-term recovery of greater Christchurch.
The document also sets a timeline of when residents in the orange zones of the city - areas where land is still being assessed - will find out whether or not their land is safe enough to live on.
Those in Upper Brooklands, Spencerville and South Shore should learn this month whether their properties will be red or green-zoned.
Residents in parts of Avonside, Burwood, Hoon Hay, Parklands, South New Brighton, Wainoni and Waltham will have to wait until October to learn their fate.
Public consultation on the draft strategy is being held until 30 October.
