Liability sought

Press, 7 May 1982, Page 4

Liability sought

Damage liability regarding a Sydenham house, which its owner says has sunk on its foundations, will be discussed with the Christchurch City Council. The owner, Mr S. C. Anderson, blamed the Christchurch Drainage Board for causing the alleged damage when the drain outside his Huxley Street home was renewed more than two years ago. The board denied any reponsibility for damage after an engineer’s report said that there had. been heavy flooding in the area. Since then the board has found that the house frontage

extends over the drairi easement and the board’s operations and services committee recommended yesterday that the matter be discussed with the City Council. Mr M. J. Dobson said: “It might be suggested that the council was negligent or one of its officers might have been negligent in allowing the building to be built where it was." The Andersons face losing their life savings to repair the damage, which could cost up to $7OOO, he said. The couple was also worried that further board work on the drain might cause more damage to the house.

Stormwater The question of stormwater relief drainage for properties next to Upper Riccarton Domain has been returned to the Waimairi County Council. The council asked the Drainage Board what measures it would take to prevent stormwater running from the domain and flooding three properties during heavy rains. Board members adopted a recommendation which said that the council was responsible for providing drains to divert the run-off to a side channel in Brodie Street.