Dallington residents upset over rates for damaged utilities

Ratepayers in Dallington are upset they are not eligible for discounted rates, despite utilities still being damaged. File photo / Greg Bowker

Ratepayers in the Christchurch suburb of Dallington are upset they are not eligible for discounted rates, despite utilities still being damaged since the February 22 earthquake.

Some residents have just received their quarterly bills and are dismayed they have to pay for services they do not receive.

Roads in the eastern suburb remain damaged, the sewage system is still broken and portoloos line the streets.

Rata Turner was one of several residents who told Radio New Zealand it is unfair she has to pay for services she is not using.

"If we flush the toilet it goes straight into the Avon. I mean hell's bells, we shouldn't be paying for that.

"So we don't flush the toilet, we use the chemical toilet that was provided and walk it down the road and I don't think that is good enough really."

Mrs Turner said her property's value has fallen since the earthquake, but her rates have not fallen accordingly.

The council said only those ratepayers who cannot live in their homes while they are fixed or demolished and rebuilt are eligible for the rates reduction.

Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button said it was understandable ratepayers are frustrated, but someone has to pay for the costs the council is facing.

"The fact of the matter is even the chemical toilets and portoloos are costing the council a lot more than the normal system that we'd use," she told Radio New Zealand. "We have to pay for that."

"It is not the level of service we would like to provide but it is what we've got after the earthquake."

Ms Button said the council will be revaluing properties in the future.
"We haven't had time to go out and value all the properties since the 22nd of February," she said.

"We don't know if the value is gong to fall. If the house has been rebuilt and the land has been remediated it will be worth probably more."