NZ - Decision looms over Auckland storm-damaged homes buyout process
Auckland Council will decide at a private meeting on Friday how it will buy homes damaged in recent severe storms.
A record 307mm of rain fell between 27 January and 1 February 2023, with floods damaging hundreds of homes.
Cyclone Gabrielle on 13 and 14 February then brought more than 300mm of rain, high winds and landslides.
More than 2400 public submissions were made about the council's purchase process for storm-wrecked homes.
About 83 percent of submitters support the council's proposal to spend just under $2 billion on storm recovery.
Warkworth's Mahurangi River flooding in February. Photo: Getty Images / Fiona Goodall
Water and transport
The council plans to spend $820 million on water resilience. This would go towards new 'bluegreen networks' in areas with critical flood risks and to rehabilitate streams, so they are more resilient to floods.
The plan sets aside $390m for transport recovery. This would be used to repair damaged roads and bridges and includes Mill Flat Road bridge, access to Karekare and Piha, several roads in west and north Auckland, and roads on Aotea/ Great Barrier Island.
Category 3 property buyouts
The council plans to spend up to $774m to buy about 700 category 3 homes. If more homes are found to pose a high risk to occupants during severe weather, central government and council would work together to decide the next steps.
The properties must be residential, damaged by severe weather in January and February 2023, pose intolerable risk to life, and lack a viable way to mitigate the risks.
When the council meets on 6 October, it will consider its policies on category 3 properties, including how to define them, whether holiday homes and rentals should be treated differently, how to set buyout prices, and the size of owner contributions.
Representatives from Muriwai Stickered Residents Group (MSRG), Piha/ Karekare/ Anawhata Stickered Residents Group (PKASRG) and Auckland Stickered Residents Group (ASRG) made presentations to the council governing body last Thursday.
Auckland Stickered Residents' Group said people wanted a fair process, where residents could participate in the decisions that would affect their families' futures.
A survey conducted by the group found 60 percent were concerned about risks to people's lives, saying categorisation of the damaged homes was not an exact science.
The survey found 67 percent were concerned about valuations and their ability to purchase again in their community.
People in category 3 properties will be offered a voluntary buyout by the council, with the costs shared between the government and council.
Funding is also available from the government and council to help people in category 2 houses, where alterations can be made to avoid unacceptable risk in future storms.
