By ALAN PERROTT
Flat Bush residents living next to an abandoned asbestos dump want Manukau City Council to buy their homes.
Rakaia Rise residents have rejected a report stating they are happy with the council's investigations into remedial action.
Many do not accept council assurances that they face no immediate health risk and want to relocate immediately.
Manukau City has scheduled a further meeting with residents in September, but that is not soon enough for Cliff McCord.
"Well, would you want to live here?"
He and his neighbours want Manukau City to buy them out so they can leave without serious financial loss.
The report found five out of 15 properties inspected posed no health threat to residents.
Mr McCord lives in Rakaia Rise with his wife and two young children. Their property - on the edge of a gully containing a major dump site - has been found to contain "bulk" asbestos-contaminated material.
The options to prevent people inhaling asbestos fibres included burying the site under 1m of soil.
"They can fill it in from now until Christmas. If I'd known about this I wouldn't have bought the property. I don't want to be here. [Manukau City Council] can have it back. They say there are no immediate health risks. Well, ask me in 30 years."
Mr McCord has been advised not do any earthworks that will disturb the asbestos.
A Flat Bush resident and former MP, the Rev Ann Batten, said court action against Manukau City was an option. "The costs are prohibitive, but the community has raised a lot of money."
Legal action and appeals could cost residents about $500,000.
But the Flat Bush community is not united behind such action. Some are worried their property values will collapse, others are fearful of reprisals from those who don't want their dilemma aired publicly.
Len Brown, Otara councillor and chairman of the council committee considering remedial action, said the issue was a "hospital pass for everyone."
He could not confirm the options Manukau City was considering as a remedy but said the council would make a decision after the September meeting with residents.
Flat Bush locals reject report on asbestos
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