Home-buying suggested for retreat plan

A proposal to buy properties to help South Dunedin adapt to climate change has been praised by many, but others have expressed reservations about whether the plan will actually be realised.

The Dunedin City Council has started early discussions with the Treasury about government support for a $132 million programme to buy up 65 properties a year over an initial period of the next five years.

Under the approach being considered, the council said the properties would be bought voluntarily on the open market, acquired gradually over decades and then used to enable the South Dunedin climate change adaptation strategy, now under development.

The buying-up of property could begin as early as next July.

Taieri Labour MP Ingrid Leary said she was pleased to see the DCC taking preemptive action.

She believed it could put the region a step ahead when it came to adapting to the climate challenge.

“We have an opportunity to be the poster child for climate adaptation here in South Dunedin, and even globally,” she said in a social media post.

South Dunedin resident Robbie Green, 71, also believed it was “a very sound idea”.

“I don’t mind them using ratepayers’ money to buy houses in Dunedin — as long as the cause is right.”

However, many other South Dunedin residents were not yet sold on the idea.

One resident, who declined to be named, believed engineering solutions like those used in low-lying areas of the Netherlands and London would be better.

“They’ve got pumps running 24/7. There are engineering solutions.

“They should be the first consideration, rather than just trying to move people out. Moving people out should be a last resort.”

Brenda Sandoe, 82, said she had lived in the area all her life and would not be keen to move away.

“I like living here. I love the people and the community.

“I don’t really want to sell my place because it’s handy to all the shops and I don’t have to go into town.”

Another younger resident, who declined to be named, said she was concerned about how much council would pay for the properties.

“Just because the council pays market value for my house, it doesn’t mean that it will be enough to help me buy another house somewhere else.”

Isobel Bell, 78, believed global warming was having a major impact on the area and it was inevitable South Dunedin would become uninhabitable.

She said buying affected properties would be a good solution to the problem.

“I think something has to be done. We can’t put it off forever.

“But I would prefer we just wait until I cark it, and then do it.”

The council was asked yesterday how it was likely to pay for its part in the programme.

South Dunedin Future programme manager Jonathan Rowe said most of the details were still being worked through.

The buy ups would focus on an area known as “The Flat”, which was the zone most likely to be affected by future flooding, groundwater, erosion or other water problems.

Asked why the approach to the Treasury was not made public, he said it was because he wanted to give the government time to consider the idea.

It was not known when the Treasury would make their decision.

However, Mr Rowe believed the council was “on track” to agree on a full climate change adaptation strategy for South Dunedin by 2026.

“The earlier we start building a portfolio of properties, the easier it will be to make South Dunedin safer and better in future.”

john.lewis@odt.co.nz