Masterton flood risks kill sale

A Wanganui couple are furious over the collapse of a house sale in Masterton they claim is a direct result of the property being classified as being in the flood zone.

Venessa and Alan Trass, formerly of Wairarapa, but who have lived out of the district for 13 years, have owned the house for about three years having first bought it for a family member to live in.

They put the house on the market and had all but clinched a sale when the prospective buyer pulled out because a LIM report showed it to be on a floodplain.

Mrs Trass said the couple had not the slightest inkling the property was classed as being at risk of flooding.

She said she telephoned Greater Wellington Regional Council on learning data gathered by the council had resulted in properties throughout much of the town had identified supposed flood risks.

" They told me I should have had a letter informing us of that.

" We have never received a letter," Mrs Trass said.

The collapse of the River Road house sale meant the couple had missed out on $143,000 but Mrs Trass said their concerns were not only for themselves.

" There must be many others who own property in Masterton who do not know their properties have been classified as flood risks," she said.

Mrs Trass said she had lived in the River Road area in previous years and was very familiar with Masterton.

" I can never remember any time when that area of town flooded and I reckon if it did the whole town would be under," she said.