M.P. URGES PRECAUTIONS ON ROAD TUNNEL WORK

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29722, 16 January 1962, Page 8

M.P. URGES PRECAUTIONS ON ROAD TUNNEL WORK

"The callous disregard for ihe safety of families, some with littSe chUdreti, living nearby, is appalling.” said Mr N. E. Kirk, member of Parliament for Lyttelton, yesterday, after an inspection of properties near the work on the road leading to the Lyttelton road tunnel at Heathcote.

"Sizeable lumps o< rock have landed in people's backyards more than 300 yards away after blasting," he said. ‘‘One piece of rock weighing 10 or 12 pounds thumped down in the backyard of a house where there are two young children. Fortunately, they were not in the yard at the time.

“Houses and outbuildings are being damaged by flying stone. Most, if not all, of this damage has not been repaired, nor is there any indication as to when the repairs will be carried out. “One boulder weighing more than 1001 b was blown into the middle of Port Hills road, narrowly missing a house on its way down. This rock is still on the side of the road.

“Some property had been damaged by machines operated on preparatory work months ago. Nothing has been done about this damage either by way of repairs or compensation. “Indefensible" “This sort of thing is indefensible,” Mr Kirk said. "When the Government is basically responsible for the work that caused it, it is doubly so. Immediate steps should be taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of these unsatisfactory incidents in the future.” Mr Kirk said he was also concerned about the way in which the Government had seized the land to build the road. In some cases, he had been told that, notwithstanding that the owners had been deprived of their land months ago and it had been fenced off, and cut about, no offer of compensation had been conveyed in. writing to the person concerned

Work had been carried out on private land in a way that unnecessarily restricted the use of the land and lowered its value. “Safety Paramount” “It is wrong that people should be subjected to this sort of thing." he continued. “The residents and property owners are entitled to be carefully and sympathetically considered at all times. Their safety should be paramount. “I know, as the residents know and appreciate, that the tunnel road project is a big and important work. It is accepted as inevitable that a certain amount of inconvenience is bound to result in the course of the job. “But I do not accept that it is necessary to sacrifice the safety, interests and rights of the citizen to carry out this work efficiently. I believe that each person is entitled to an assurance that his rights as a citizen are properly considered and provided for. that his rights as a property owner are respected, and tha t he is subjected to a minimum of inconvenience.

“This means care when working on or near private property, prompt attention to any damage that may occur, no entry to private property without proper permission, and proper and adequate compensation for land taken. This is not the case at Heathcote.”

Mr Kirk has protested to the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) and asked for an immediate improvement in the situation.

“I feel sure that the Minister should try to meet my request, for the experiences of the Heathcote people are vastly different from the ‘generous compensation and careful consideration’ which was assured by Mr H. J. Walken, member of Parliament for St. Albans, on behalf of the Government to those householders in that area whose homes are to be demolished to permit the construction of the new northern outlet for Christchurch,” Mr Kirk said.