Property owners are in talks with Nelson City Council over the potential purchase of homes that are at risk of slips following the severe rainfall in August 2022, and further significant rainfall in May 2023.
The council has only given 10 properties on Brook Street this offer, leaving the owners with a decision.
Before this plan, the council was going to remediate three slips from public land affecting private property as part of the $17.3 million package approved in May 2023.
Around the same time the package was approved Nelson was hit by another weather event, which caused council and their consultants to realise their proposed fixes were no longer appropriate as the issue became more widespread and unstable.
"Part of our responsibility of being a good neighbour since the August weather event has been to step up monitoring of ground conditions on our own land," said Acting Nelson Mayor Rohan O'Neill-Stevens.
According to council there is no immediate risk to properties and residents and the Building Control Authority has not issued these properties with any placards at this stage.
"We recognise that this particular group of homeowners now have to make a difficult decision regarding their homes. There is of course the option to stay, but this would come with ongoing risk to homeowners.
"Property owners will be able to work with our Navigator and support services who are available to support these residents.”
Council and landowners are working together to consider an appropriate trigger for them to vacate their properties such as an approaching severe weather event.
The council believed there are no reasonable options, such as remediation works, available to reduce the landslide risk to an acceptable level.
SHARE ME