The group presenting to the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Maia Ingoe
Auckland residents whose properties are in danger because of slips on publicly owned land have pleaded their case for a fix funded from council coffers.
A group of Titirangi residents told Auckland Council they have fallen through the gaps of recovery funding from last year's Auckland Anniversary floods.
But, while councillors were sympathetic to their plight, they so far have stopped short of agreeing to pay.
Tony Proffit's home is one of six sharing an accessway, blocked by a landslide since the floods.
"There's a risk to life with it, we've gone through the categorisation process, they've clearly highlighted that there's a high probability that over the course of 100 years, someone will lose their life."
He said it was public land, so it was the council's responsibility to fix. But there are complications.
The land is managed by Auckland Transport, which is only funded to maintain the road corridor, not surrounding land.
The residents do not qualify for buy-outs, and they cannot repair the land themselves without facing consent hurdles.
Auckland Transport estimates there are at least 50 homes in this situation, likely more.
The residents from the Stickered Area Residents Group that presented to Council. Photo: RNZ / Maia Ingoe
Another Titirangi resident, Rachael Feather, said her property was at risk from council land slipped directly in front of her house.
"I'm in a position where any further rain of that magnitude, but it was normal rain that was mentioned, the house could slide further."
She said it was a worry every time it rained.
"It's not just about access, there are many homes like mine where it's the actual structure of the house that's left at imminent risk."
Representing the Stickered Area Residents group, Proffit pleaded its case to Auckland Council's Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday, urging it find money for the cleanup.
"The government has said funding has been allocated for this, funds are available, it's a local issue and they need to find a way to allocate those funds."
Councillor Ken Turner pushed the council to find the funds or reallocate money to repair council-owned land.
He said negotiations with Auckland Transport to repair the slips had gone nowhere, and West Auckland had been left in disrepair.
"That's not no man's land, that's everyone's land. Those of us who don't need to use it, need to look at it. This is a third-world outcome.
"If this was Ponsonby or Parnell or Remuera, there's no way that would be allowed to take place."
He introduced a six-point motion to find solutions.
Councillor Shane Henderson agreed it was the council's responsibility to fix the mess.
"It's an issue where publicly owned land has been or is threatening to cause huge damage to homes. I know there's no funding pot, I know that.
"But this notice of motion will put on the table various options and allow us to think innovatively about solving the problem."
Councillor Angela Dalton questioned the implications of agreeing to a fix.
"These issues are appearing over the north and out the south as well, so I'm interested, and it might have to be for officers to provide advice, the precedent that this sets in terms of the cost to the council."
Councillor Richard Hills questioned Turner about his voting record on council buy-outs of storm-damaged homes.
Auckland's recovery office expects the council will be able to afford to buy out 900 at-risk homes - but 3500 have applied for the scheme.
"You were at the time the only councillor to vote against any funding to go to buy outs, or this work, because you said, potentially we shouldn't be doing it. Do you understand now how difficult it is and why we needed to do that?"
After a break, Turner's suggestion was re-written as a request for "definitive advice on solutions to the issues raised by the Stickered Area Residents group, and any associated financial impacts and the potential precedents".
That advice is due at the next committee meeting in November.
Turner said that was a compromise over the concerns about unforeseen consequences.
"But I've put in there, 'definitive' advice, because we need to get timely outcomes and some answers."
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said she wanted the recovery office to finalise that advice in a month at the most.
"These people have waited for 20 months. They have fallen through the gap of existing policies, and are unique, in a set of circumstances, that need an answer."
Proffit said there is a long road ahead for affected residents.
"Once a decision is made on this, it's still going to take six months to get through the consenting process, another six months to actually finish the work.
"So we've got another 12 months ahead of us once a decision is made, so we're looking at three years before the issue is actually resolved, and that's not acceptable."
And as they wait, West Auckland residents continue to live with the risk of damage to their homes every time it rains.
