Mallard backs state house demolitions in Hutt

The Dom Post reports:

Housing New Zealand is to demolish 54 earthquake-prone flats in Epuni, Naenae and Taita. Even the local Labour MP believes it’s a reasonable course of action.

The 18 buildings, most of them in Durham Cres, Cambridge Tce. and Hampton Court, are less than 20 per cent of the new build standard and it would be uneconomic to strengthen them, HNZ’s area manager Stephen Wilson says.

Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard said while he hadn’t seen the corporation’s estimates for earthquake-strengthening and modernising the 18 buildings, “even if fixed up, they are not very good units”.

He was told many of them were built in the era of World War II for American officers and their steep stairways were a “design fault” that made them dangerous for the elderly and young, “who are a significant part of the Housing NZ clientele.

“I think the decision to demolish is the right one.”

They’re also badly placed on their sections, and Mallard said there was potential to house more people there in what are “exceptionally good” locations close to trains, shops, schools and kindergartens.

Local iwi trusts may be interested and Mallard said he was keen to facilitate discussions to get an early decision from them, including exploring joint ventures with developers.

Good to see a Labour MP backing what National is doing – making sure the stock of state houses is fit for today.