Some storm-damaged properties in West Auckland’s Muriwai have been categorised – but the process is leading to more uncertainty and distress for residents.
The owners of 27 homes have been told they qualify for the buyout scheme, but 41 others are stillwaiting for decisions.
Auckland Council said that was because it was still unknown whether engineering work on the homes would reduce their risk.
“It is about some more property level information – are there any options that would assure that property and that home would be a safe place to live?” Ward said.
Caroline Bell-Booth’s Muriwai home was a Category 3 and, initially, she was relieved by the decision.
“This was a decision whereby the science and the data backed what I could see – with no geotechnical knowledge – with my eyes and feel in my heart from the moment I returned to my home, having been evacuated on the night of the cyclone.”
Flooding in the council reserve behind her home inundated a series of houses, including hers, she said.
“The next step for me and my husband will be to understand the valuation calculation because, whilst it’s wonderful to have the relief that one qualifies for a buyout, if one doesn’t understand what that buyout entails then one is still waiting with bated breath, so to speak.”
She hoped the buyout would be like-for-like. “I’m certainly hoping that it’s a ‘you break it, you buy it’ type situation.”
“Interestingly a 2/3 for my neighbour ... she doesn’t want the buyout, so everybody has their own story about what they’re wanting to have happen in Muriwai.”
Ward said owners of flood-damaged homes should know how much they would be paid out by October.
He told Morning Report the council would have more details for those residents after public consultation next month.
“We do need to go out and consult Aucklanders about the Auckland Council’s funding portion of that $2 billion, so that will occur over September and then we have a goal of late October of being able to go out to people with buyout options.”
