Families see homes crack

Press, 16 July 1979, Page 6

Families see homes crack

PA Dunedin About 150 residents of the Abbotsford suburb in Dunedin held an emergency roadside meeting yesterday about the landslide which has caused three homes to be evacuated and threatens at least 50 others.

The member of Parliament for Dunedin Central, Mr B. P. MacDonell, told the meeting he intended to ask the Minister in charge of the Earthquake and War Damages Commission (Mr Quigley) to declare a disaster area.

The land is still moving. Residents say the cracks.in houses can be seen to change throughout the day.

A window of one of the evacuated houses broke while the meeting was being held.

Three families have now moved from homes in the area.

According to one of the property owners, Mr J. Sparrow, two Mitchell Street families moved on Friday after a structural engineer had inspected the properties and said he no longer considered them safe. Mr Sparrow and his family are now living in a caravan on the section and using facilities in. a neighbour’s house.

A house on the opposite side of the street was also evacuated on Friday. Mr W. Medder and his family are

now staying with friends further down the street. Mr and Mrs M. Patterson, of Christie Street, moved from their home 15 days ago on the advice of their lawyer and are now living in a caravan on the property. The Earthquake and War Damages Commission has said it recognises the area as a landslide and will accept i bona fide claims as long as they are registered soon ; after the damage is noticed. ! Although only three houses I have been evacuated so far (several more show severe I cracks. It has been estimated that I between 50 and 80 other ■ properties have been affeted.

One house Mr MacDonell visited yesterday had just been completed.