Compensation for tip site repairs

Press, 7 May 1987, Page 8

Compensation for tip site repairs

PA Wellington A man who spent $14,000 repairing a Hutt Valley flat said to be built over an old Lower Hutt City Council tip site will receive full compensation. Mr Des Howard’s claim against the council was featured on last evening’s television programme, “Fair Go.” Mr Howard said a twobedroom flat he bought in Maungaraki in 1980 had suffered minor cracks in the walls and larger cracks on an intervening wall with an adjoining property. The flat had been built over an old tip. He said he had had to repile and level the property at a cost of $14,000. He had since sold it Mr Howard’s lawyer, Mr Christopher Caldwell, •yesterday confirmed that a settlement had been

offered for the amount sought by the council's insurance company, New Zealand Municipalities Co-op. Insurance Company, Ltd. The Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr Glen Evans, yesterday said the council was not responsible for an offer of settlement which “Fair Go” reported had been made subject to the case not being shown on the television programme.

Mr Evans said once a case was dealt with by the council’s insurer it was out of the council’s hands. Asked if he knew some details of the Howard case, Mr Evans said, “I’m

not going to be tricked into answering questions on it I can’t and won’t” He said it was a matter between the insurers and Mr Howard’s lawyer.

Mr Alan Beal, branch manager of Municipalities Co-op. Insurance Company, Ltd, said an offer had been made to settle with Mr Howard but it was not with strings attached as suggested on the television programme.

The council’s chief engineer, Mr Carroll O’Donavan, said he knew of no other property owner claiming his property had been affected by the old tip site.