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Embattled homeowner David Chen has sought the highest political help in the land as his fight against the New Plymouth District Council and its crumbling land goes on.
Chen has emailed Prime Minister Chris Hipkins as well as a long list of high profile politicians outlining the issues he faces in trying to save his family’s property on Waiwera Place.
Opposition leader Christopher Luxon, Finance Minister Grant Roberston and Green Party co-leader James Shaw were also recipients of the email.
In the email, also sent to Stuff, Chen “requests fairness and justice” from the council which “refused to shoulder their responsibility.”
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Since July last year, a large slip on land owned by the council has been growing, undermining the soil beneath the Chens’ section and destroying the retaining wall on his property.
“The soil is dropping every day in front of my house.” Chen said.
Andy MacDonald/Stuff
David Chen addressed council regarding the cliff collapse affecting his house.
“Moreover, the erosion rates are very fast. At present, it is closing to the bottom of my fence. Soon, my entire top bank will collapse due to the loss of support underneath. The houses and people above will also fall to the bottom of the slope.”
Last week the council issued a statement though New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom saying while it “understands the ongoing land slippage has caused considerable stress to the family” it would not be providing any financial assistance or attempting the stop the erosion.
However, the decision was not universally supported, with councillor Dinnie Moeahu outspoken in his criticism, while he also penned an opinion piece in the Taranaki Daily News in support of Chen and his family.
“In my view the responsibility for erosion control on council reserve land falls under the jurisdiction of the New Plymouth District Council,” Moeahu wrote.
“Local councils have a responsibility to protect council reserve land from erosion and other forms of damage.
“This includes conducting regular inspections of the land and implementing appropriate erosion control measures.”
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