Viv Haar is remarkably relaxed for a man facing the prospect of losing his lover Stokes Valley home of almost 35 years.
Undermined by a massive slip on july 21, engineers determined that the house is at “imminent” risk of failure. A dangerous building warning on the front door prohibits anyone from entering.
KEVIN STENT/Things
Former Olympic rower Viv Haar – who is a former Lower Hutt council engineer – has been told his home on Holborn Drive in Stokes Valley is unlikely to be saved.
However, the former Olympic rower can still play a joke at his own expense.
“I will come out of this much wiser. I could even be an expert.”
READ MORE:
* Slip away from main Wellington suburban route, another road remains closed
* SH2 Remutaka Hill reopens after closure due to ‘multiple slips’
* This retaining wall in Wellington keeps council workers awake at night
* Waterfall Road closed due to impending landslide hazard
* Natural spring likely cause of erosion leading to Hamilton slip
The slip, and a little further south threatened a second property, led to the temporary closure of part of Eastern Hutt Rd, the only access road to Stokes Valley.
She laughs at how many Stokes Valley residents suddenly became technical experts offering solutions to a problem he describes as complex, with no easy or obvious solution.
KEVIN STENT/Things
The former Lower Hutt City Council engineer is not critical of the borough, which owns “about half” of the area that has slipped.
A former engineer for Lower Hutt Municipality, he is not critical of the municipality, which owns “about half” of the area that has slipped.
“We live on a hill and everywhere in Wellington where you live on a hill is a risk.”
There are containers to protect the road, but he said that while the house is over the slip, the road is under serious threat.
On the day of the slip, it was clear that the house was in danger. Viv and his wife, Janet, have emptied it and now live elsewhere.
stuff
Viv Haar competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
His greatest regret is that he is not home for the daily ritual of feeding the birds.
“Twice a day they demanded food. Oddly enough, we even had a parakeet that showed up, but it was mostly natives who enjoyed the sugar water we handed out.”
Facing the possibility of losing a house he had invested in for almost 35 years would be stressful for most people, but Her is not sleeping. “Stress does not solve the problem.”
For his wife, however, it was more difficult. “Janet has had her moments, she’s crying a little bit.”
Nicholas Boyack / Stuff
Part of the deck has been opened up to allow engineers to look at the slip.
Visiting the property is not easy for her. “She feels like she has to go in and clean the place and do the lawns.”
A report from engineering firm Tonkin and Taylor, commissioned by its insurers, listed three options.
One was to move the house to the back of the section, something Haar had already thought about.
However, it would require working above a slip that clearly has the potential to get worse, on a house engineers believe could fail at any moment.
KEVIN STENT
Viv Haar’s house is perched precariously on the edge of the cliff, above a row of shipping containers.
Excavating the back of the section and installing a retaining wall would cost over $150,000 and would require permission from the resource.
Although he doubts whether a move is feasible, he has a moving company take a look at the location.
“We absolutely love the site. We have a very, very comfortable outdoor living space and we’ve remodeled the house exactly the way we want it.”
Other options include handling the slip, which could potentially cost millions.
Jessica Gessner/delivered
Hundreds of skids have plagued Wellington amid months of torrential rain, including this one that crushed several cars on Sutherland Rd, Melrose, in August.
“I’ve even thought about cutting the house in half and adding some bedrooms in the back.”
Whatever option the Haars ultimately choose will be expensive and will require negotiations with their insurers, the Earthquake Commission and the City Council.
He is grateful for the support of the municipality, especially Mayor Campbell Barry. He said the best option will become clearer as they gather more information, but he is determined not to let him stress.
“We’re 70 years old and we own a debt-free house, so we know we’re in a lucky position.”