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Robin Plummer outside his red-stickered Cashmere home. He and his wife, Moira, are refusing to leave their home, which they believe is safe, despite a 20-tonne rock landing nearby after the February 22 quake - Source: Fairfax -
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Christchurch homeowners battling eviction from their rockfall-threatened properties have banded together to fight the move.
Last month, 27 notices to fix - effectively an order to immediately vacate the property - were hand-delivered by city council staff.
Homeowners were given until yesterday to comply or face fines of up to $200,000 or court action.
About 20 affected Port Hills residents met on Tuesday to consider a challenge to the council's eviction action.
Sue Stubenvoll, an advocate for red-stickered Lyttelton homeowners, said it was an opportunity to "compare notes and agree on a way forward".
"In part, that depends on whether [the council] goes ahead with issuing injunctions, but we feel we have a very strong case on several counts," she said.
It would "almost be good" for both sides if a case was taken to court, Stubenvoll said.
"It would clarify where responsibility lies and how far people can be pushed," she said.
"Secondly, if people can go to court and the council can say: `It's not my problem', then the council's off the hook."
Retired couple Moira and Robin Plummer, who have refused to leave their Cashmere home of 40 years, yesterday welcomed the united effort.
"You do need support from other people because [the eviction threat] does frighten you," Moira Plummer said.
"Too many [red-stickered] people are saying: `We can't stand this'."
Most were prepared to "go to the end".
"We've got people down the valley who don't have a red sticker and yet they're writing to the prime minister complaining about the treatment we're getting," she said.
The council's treatment of the affected residents had been "ridiculous", Plummer said.
"We own this house and we own this land. What gives [the council] the right to tell us we should move on?" she said.
"It's their land up there the rocks are sitting on, not mine. No-one can get on with their lives. Why are they leaving us hanging?"
After the February 22 quake, a 20-tonne rock landed near their home, which was still deemed "medium risk" by engineers.
Other rocks on the hillside did not concern the couple.
"Since that rock [in February], not one pebble has come down. We're doing what we want to do and we take full responsibility," she said.
