We're staying, say residents on proposed expressway route

By RENEE WALSH

An 80-year-old Cambodian woman and her family say the Auckland and Manukau City Councils will have to force them out of their Pakuranga homes to make way for the proposed eastern expressway.

Houng Eng Ly, who has lived in her home for 24 years, said she could not bear the thought of moving. "This is my home. I don't know anywhere else. I'm not going anywhere else. What will happen to my feijoa and apple trees if I go and what about my gardens?"

The family bond with the area grew even stronger about eight years ago when Houng Eng Ly's son Meng Ly bought a quarter-acre section next to his mother's house in Ti Rakau Drive, Pakuranga, and built a five-bedroom home for himself, his wife and five children on it.

But hopes of a long-term future there dwindled yesterday when they were told their homes were in the path of the proposed Eastern Transport Corridor.

If the project goes ahead, about 1200 residential properties in Pakuranga, Parnell and Hobson Bay would be affected.

About 30 per cent of the cost of the corridor - $2.8 billion to $3.9 billion - has been tagged for property acquisition.

"If the councils want us out they will have to force us out," Mr Ly said. "We bought this land and built our house here so we could make sure my mother was okay. She is here for good and we are here for good."

His family moved to New Zealand from Cambodia more than 20 years ago in search of a more "peaceful and settled place of living".

"We have found that right here, where we are today. No one is going to take that away from us," Mr Ly said.

"They [the councils] offered me market value plus 25 per cent, which I think is pretty good, but money is not the issue for my family and me."

Ailsa Whippy, 79, who has been living in her Ti Rakau Drive home for 16 years, said the day she moved would be the day she dies.

"It's a humbug. I bought this place so I could retire and die here. If they take my house I'll most probably have to go into a rest-home."

In contrast, Sarah-Jane Benjamin, who has lived in her home for six years, said she would jump at the opportunity to sell her property.

"If they put up a good offer then we'll take it. It's too noisy in this area," she said.

Robert Wayne, who has been in his home for 10 years, said although he would prefer to stay, he believed the councils would eventually get their way.

"I would love to stay in my home but the council will win in the end."

Kerry Thompson, 79, has been in her home for 22 years and said she was not going anywhere.

"They will have to drag me out if they want me to go."

Richard Lewis, of the lobby group Stop the Eastern Motorway, said property owners should not worry themselves.

"It is not going to happen simply because there is not enough money and the whole issue is going to get tied up in the Environment Court."