Alliance Party says ORC has immediate responsibilities to family from lead contaminated rental property

Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday 22 October 2009

Alliance Party spokesperson and former Dunedin North candidate Victor Billot says the Otago Regional Council has "massively failed" to look after the wellbeing of Otago people.

The Otago Daily Times reported today (22 October 2009) that an ORC owned rental property in North Dunedin was let to a young family when it was known to have lead levels several times the safe limit for residential use.

The Mission Statement and Goals of the Otago Regional Council include the "sustainable development of Otago’s resources, through the sharing of knowledge and information" and to "mitigate man-made and natural risks and hazards to Otago communities."

Mr Billot says in this case knowledge and information of the most important kind has not been shared, and as a result a young family had been exposed to man made hazards, which was a dereliction of duty by the ORC.

The fact that a family has been living in the property since March 2009 with children, and were never told the property was contaminated, "was the kind of thing that happens in poor and corrupt nations."

Mr Billot says the main question is why the ORC gave permission for a residential property to be let at all in the knowledge it was contaminated.

"For the ORC to put this in the hands of a property management company and make it their job to inform tenants is a classic example of contracting out not just work but responsibility for the health and safety of local people. The ORC should not be allowed to fudge the fact that it should have never got to this stage."

Mr Billot says that it is unlikely the ORC would locate its executive offices and council chambers in a building with two to four times the recommended lead level, but there seemed to be no problem in it renting out residential properties with this very problem.

"This stinks of putting a few dollars rent above the interests of tenants and working people who don't seem to rate very highly in the ORC's scheme of things."

Mr Billot says the Council now has clear responsibilities to the wellbeing of the family.

First, rather than offering the tenants an "option" to break their lease, it should refund them their entire rent they have paid since arriving at the property.

"This is a young family, and they should be immediately offered high quality alternative accommodation in the area, and financial assistance to relocate if they should wish to do so. The ORC also should front up and pay for any medical tests and treatment for the family."

Furthermore, the decision making process and responsibilities in this situation had to be identified.

While the property management company involved had failed to do their job, the ORC should not be allowed to shift responsibility onto external contractors. The ORC should not have allowed such an important issue to be left in the hands of an external contractor, and as owner the ORC has a political responsibility to resolve the issue.

Finally, an external report should be commissioned to investigate the decision making process of the ORC in this and any similar situations.

"While local Government in Otago including regional and city councils have been focussed on "glory projects", they have lost sight of their basic purpose and responsibility to their constituents."

ENDS

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