David Thornton
Member, Glenfield Community Board
media release 16th February 2009

Statement from David Thornton - member Glenfield Community Board

Threatened residents ask council to purchase their homes.

A group of Glenfield residents is asking the North Shore City Council to purchase their properties which were threatened by landslips last July.

Two properties in Mulberry Place have already been scheduled for demolition and now a further three home-owners are putting the case that their homes remain under threat from any future heavy rain due to the inherent instability of the land.

Historical records show that the land has been under constant stability threat for at least the last 34 years and remains threatened despite numerous geotechnical reports and attempted repairs by successive councils.

The latest geotechnical report - prepared in January - is also on the council's Strategy & Finance Committee's confidential agenda for Tuesday 17th February, but has not been released to the affected residents.

The residents are claiming that any further repairs may not be any more successful than earlier attempts and the best option is for the council to purchase their homes, clear the land, and stabilise the banks which support two council-owned roads.

As a community board member it is my duty to represent the interests of residents in their dealings with council and I will be supporting these residents at Tuesday's meeting.

ENDS

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