“These affected whānau are currently in various forms of emergency accommodation, living in damaged homes or other stressful situations,” agenda documents from Thursday’s council meeting said.
Council chief executive Louise Miller said they had just one residential site available and no plans to develop it.
Mayor Kirsten Wise said that was an opportunity for council to help those who had suffered unimaginable devastation and loss.
“The affected whānau at the very least deserve a warm, dry and safe place to live.
“Leasing this parcel of land will play a small part in affording them that.”
Councillor Juliet Greig voted against approving the lease, and raised concerns about safety for children, with the land neighbouring State Highway 2.
But council staff said while fencing would be put up on that side of the land, council’s only responsibility was the lease, and safety would be up to the whānau to manage.
“We’re simply providing the land, and the trust are well aware of the limitations,” Miller said.
“Unfortunately they don’t have a lot of other alternatives at this stage, I’m not sure that we plan to do any further work, other than provide the land and the lease.”
Council staff said neighbours would receive a letter about the plans, but there was no need for consultation.
The trust will first do due diligence on the land before it commits to the lease.
