Residents of a small Stoke culdesac are concerned about rubbish left behind at Kāinga Ora properties as they wait for demolition as part of a rebuild project.
Residents of Homer St, Stoke contacted Nelson Weekly in early March, concerned about an increase of vermin attracted by piles of rubbish left at some of the six vacated Kāinga Ora properties.
Later in March, they were still waiting for the rubbish to be removed, despite claims they had repeatedly contacted the housing provider for updates.
When visited by the Weekly on Thursday 26, March, the front of the properties had unkept front lawns, bed bases strewn across the yard, piles of old gas bottles in one driveway, and the roof of a garden shed was covered in rubbish.
Kāinga Ora acting regional director for Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast, Gabrielle Thorpe says all tenants previously living in the existing homes have been supported to move into other Kāinga Ora properties, with the final households relocating at the start of March.
“We understand the importance of keeping our properties tidy to be considerate to neighbours. The lawns were mowed last week and the rubbish on site is in the process of being removed,” she said on Monday last week.
However, when visited again by Nelson Weekly on Tuesday this week, while the lawns had been mowed, none of the rubbish had been removed.
Gabrielle says the organisation will demolish the five older state homes on Homer Street and one on Nayland Road to make way for 14 new homes that better meet the needs of Kāinga Ora tenants.
“We expect the new mix of standalone and duplex homes to be completed by the end of the year.”
The development will include eight three-bedroom homes, two two-bedroom homes, and four five-bedroom homes.
