Landslide risk affects more than 1100 Hastings properties but most owners ‘left in the dark’
- Hge News
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
More than 1100 properties in Hastings are affected by a landslide risk but most landowners won’t even realise it as the council never told them, despite adding the information to their LIM reports.
The issue was brought to light last week when Stuff reported on the experience of a family who discovered the information had been added to their LIM report only when they went to sell their property.
When the family bought their 5000m² lifestyle property in March 2021, there were no hazards mentioned on its LIM report.
fast facts
More than 1100 properties across Hastings have been identified as having a landslide risk, but landowners were never informed.
Hastings District Council updated the properties’ LIM reports in 2021, but that only came to light last week.
A councillor has criticised his own council for its lack of communication and says the effect on property prices could be significant.
But their real estate agent discovered this year that Hastings District Council had added landslide hazard information to their property file in August 2021, along with 1134 other properties.
The council told Stuff it was done after the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council updated the Hawke’s Bay Hazards Portal in 2019 with a map showing all areas across the region deemed to be at risk of landslides.
The regional council said it had updated the portal using information and data from a 2008 report by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.
The only way a landowner or prospective buyer can confirm if a property is affected is by paying the Hastings District Council for a LIM report at a cost of about $400.
Last week the council said it did not know how many properties had their LIM reports updated in 2021 but it was working on calculating the number.
Within days it had worked out that 1135 properties affected.
Asked if the council intended to inform the landowners, a spokeswoman said that was yet to be decided.
The topic of how the hazard information was identified, how it was added to the hazards portal, and when it was added to LIM reports was the subject of ongoing conversations between the district council and the regional council.
Comments