Berkeley Dallard apartments is one of Wellington City Council's six social housing complexes that have been deemed earthquake-prone. Photo: RNZ / Mary Argue
Wellington City Council has voted in favour of $439.5 million plan to overhaul its social housing, with one councillor dubbing it a "vote to give people dignity".
The housing upgrade programme was established in 2008 and is a two-part plan between Wellington City Council and the Crown to maintain the city's current level of social housing over 30 years.
The first part of the agreement, which was completed in 2019, saw the government provide a grant of $220m to upgrade 940 housing units.
Under the second part of the programme the council will pay completely for the upgrades, with council staff having provided several options for consideration.
Councillors voted in favour of their preferred plan which will cost $439.5m over 10 years and see 825 upgraded housing units through refurbishment of existing buildings, alongside one new multi-unit development.
That would include the seismic remediation of nine earthquake-prone buildings previously upgraded during the first part of the plan.
Twelve councillors and pou iwi voted in favour of it, while 3 voted against.
The vote was moved by councillor Nureddin Abdurahman who said support for the programme made sense given other council spending priorities such $329m to upgrade the town hall.
He noted that compared to that decision, this programme affected the lives of people growing up in social housing.
Fellow councillor Geordie Rogers also backed the plan and said it was a vote to decide on giving people dignity or not.
"It's incredibly clear that a vote for yes for this amendment as suggested is a vote to give people dignity and a vote for no is to deny them that dignity."
Councillor Tony Randle, who did not support it, shot down that criticism.
"Councillor Rogers may be quite happy to write a blank cheque for housing on any particular project but I really take my role seriously because I want to make sure this succeeds."
Randle said he would vote no because the plan was too much of a "blank cheque", rather than that he did not support providing quality housing.
Nicola Young also voted no because she said social housing should be the government's responsibility, not the council's.
"The city council is the second biggest social housing provider in New Zealand, but actually we haven't been very good at it, we haven't looked after it over the years."
Young said Auckland Council shared a similar view to her 25 years ago when they divested their social housing.
Council also decided to ensure council staff provide detailed reporting on how the programme was rolled out.
Council staff had warned if no upgrades were done to the council's social housing portfolio it would be burdened with significant deferred maintenance.
"This may lead to increased costs due to unscheduled repair work and an expanded scope to complete necessary repairs. Most notably, this would impact the quality of living for residents."
As part of phase two, the council is demolishing the 1960s-era Granville flats which are located on Adelaide Road on land owned by the Wellington Tenths Trust.
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