Buy-out of private properties affected by slips Debate

Community Wellbeing - Education

Option 3

The argument supporting Option 3 emphasizes the importance of using council funds judiciously by offering lower buy-out percentages for uninsured properties and those affected by slips from private land. This approach is seen as a preventive measure to avoid setting a precedent where the council is expected to take full responsibility for similar future events, which could be financially unsustainable. The savings from this approach could be redirected towards enhancing education on hazard awareness and mitigation for private property owners, thereby fostering a more proactive and informed community in terms of land-use management.

Table of comments:

Point No

Comment

732.2

I believe that the percentage of market value offered for the buy-outs should be lower that the draft principles in the case of uninsured properties and properties impacted by slips from private land. I think it is a dangerous precedent for council to be taking full responsibility for these scenarios. While unfortunate for the landowners, council should focus spending money on proactive land-use management and hazard mitigation, rather than reactively spending money to bail out a few individual landowners. There will undoubtedly be future events where there is significant damage from storm& earthquake induced landslides and it will be unaffordable to offer these kinds of buyouts in future.Any money saved by offering lower % buy-out offers could be directed to better education about hazards and hazard mitigation for private properties.