Buy-out of private properties affected by slips Summary

3 comments for Buy-out of private properties affected by slips.

Emotion Chart

Summary of Resident Comments on the Buy-out of Private Properties Affected by Slips

Key Themes and Issues

  1. Responsibility and Cost Sharing:

  2. There is concern about the source of funding for the buy-outs, particularly when damage is exacerbated by actions of private landowners. It is suggested that these landowners or their insurers should contribute to the compensation costs if their actions have increased the likelihood of damage.

  3. Government Support and Principles of Buy-out:

  4. The Nelson Youth Council supports the acceptance of Central Government’s buy-out support offer but recommends amending the eligibility principles. They argue against reducing buy-out costs for uninsured properties solely based on insurance status, suggesting adjustments only if the lack of insurance is due to negligence rather than financial inability.

  5. Community and Climate Resilience:

  6. Wakatū emphasizes the need for a comprehensive Council strategy on climate change impacts and community resilience. They stress the importance of equitable treatment in the face of natural hazards and urge the Council to develop a clear, well-resourced strategy for climate resilience and emergency management.

Recommendations from Submissions

  1. Investigation of Potential Future Risks:

  2. It is recommended that the Council identifies other lands that could potentially cause damage in future storms and takes preventive measures to restrict developments on these hazardous sites.

  3. Amendment of Buy-out Eligibility Principles:

  4. Propose adjustments to the eligibility principles to ensure fairness, particularly concerning uninsured properties. The suggestion is to offer 80% of the market value for properties uninsured due to negligence, while considering full support for those uninsured due to financial constraints.

  5. Development of a Comprehensive Strategy:

  6. There is a strong recommendation for the Council to accelerate the development of a climate resilience and emergency management plan. This strategy should be clear and well-resourced to facilitate informed decision-making and risk assessments.

Comparison of Viewpoints

  • The first comment raises concerns about the fairness of funding sources, especially when private actions contribute to the risk. This contrasts with the Youth Council’s focus on leveraging government support to aid recovery, suggesting a more inclusive approach to eligibility that considers socioeconomic factors.
  • Wakatū’s input highlights a broader community perspective, emphasizing the need for strategic leadership and parity in treatment across the community, which aligns with the call for equitable treatment in the Youth Council’s suggestions but adds a strategic, long-term planning component.

Conclusion

The council is advised to consider these varied perspectives carefully. Balancing responsibility between private landowners and public funds, ensuring equitable treatment in buy-out processes, and developing a robust strategy for climate resilience are critical steps forward. These measures will not only address immediate concerns but also strengthen community trust and resilience in the face of future natural hazards.

Comment Point ID
Comment: 2Storm Damage: Impact from public land I agree with payout. I have some reservations about impact from private land and the proportion of the payout from the public purse. If the current landowner at the source of the damage has done ayrhing that makes the slips/water runoff etc more likely or even certain, then part of the payment should come from them or their insurer. Some questions: Has Council identified other land with the potential to cause damage in a future storm that didn't happen in 2022?  What steps has Council taken to ensure there are no further developments on potentially hazardous sites? If not I suggest a work programme on this be included in the Plan. 1001.3
Comment: Buy-out of Private Properties The Nelson Youth Council supports accepting Central Government’s buy-out support offer while attempting to amend the eligibility buy-out principles. We believe that the funding from Central Government is a fantastic opportunity to help our city grow past the August 2022 Severe Weather Event. It will help support some of the people most affected by the event and enable council to demolish potentially dangerous properties that are currently unfit for use. This opportunity’s benefits outweigh the false precedent that may be set surrounding the council's responsibility to buy out damaged properties and the cost to the community. While we agree that it is not the council's responsibility to cover relocation costs surrounding the buy-outs and that the 12-month time-limit on offers is reasonable, we do not support the reduction of potential buy-out costs due to lack of insurance on all properties. While council will need to cover the extra costs incurred by an uninsured property, homeowners without insurance may have equal if not more need for funds from their property buy-out. We propose to accept Central Government’s buy-out support offer while amending the eligibility buy-out principles so that homeowners with both uninsured properties only receive the lower 80% of their home’s market value pre-August 2022 if it can be proven that their lack of insurance is due to negligence rather than poverty. 1147.7
Comment: 28. Wakatū is not fully informed on the circumstances of the individual proposed buy-outs and is therefore not in a position to form a view on this matter. 29. However, we would note that the circumstances that the householders find themselves in underlines the need for a clear Council strategy to manage climate change impacts and improve community resilience. There has been discussion of managed retreat from areas of the City and this has undermined investor confidence in the CBD and influenced a negative view of the City by the insurance industry. 30. It is imperative that the Council shows decisive leadership in this space and commits to the protection of the city centre and key infrastructure such as the airport and the port. Alternatively, if the Council is considering managed retreat from parts of the City then this must be discussed openly with the potentially impacted communities at the earliest opportunity. 31. It is Wakatū’s view that a community stands or falls together and that the whole community is vulnerable to natural hazards, be it flood, coastal impacts, land slips, earthquake or fire. If one group impacted by natural hazard is singled out for special treatment - positive or negative – then the view of the wider community is likely to be polarised. Parity of treatment in the face of natural hazards is a key requirement.   Nelson City Council - Eligibility Buy-out Principles 45. See comments above. Wakatū believes that these challenges are likely to become more frequent going forward and would strongly recommend that the Council accelerates the development of their Climate resilience and emergency management plan so that all parties can make informed decisions and risk assessments. It is obviously preferable for the Council to make decisions on any future buy-outs in light of a clear and properly resourced strategy. 1445.3