Canvastown couple Alan and Janet Manning will receive an insurance payout after floodwaters ripped through their Wakamarina Rd property last month, but say it will be too expensive to rebuild the 100-year-old house.
The Mannings decided against repairing the house, which their insurance company estimated would cost $100,000.
"We're not going to tear it down; it will just sit as an empty shell," Mr Manning said.
"We can wreck it if we want to, but it's not cheap to knock down a house. It just seems like wasted money."
Their home was damaged by last month's flood, caused by a storm that left widespread damage across north Marlborough. Other Wakamarina Rd residents whose homes were damaged would not be tearing down their houses and everyone was still planning to stay put on their properties, he said.
The Mannings, who lived in their Wakamarina Rd home for three years and owned it freehold, would not rebuild on the land because they feared the Wakamarina River would breach its banks again.
"The fact of the matter is what's stopping us [from rebuilding] is the river can come up anytime it feels like it and do the same thing. It will be a total loss to us if there's another flood."
Mr Manning was not sure what the couple would do with the insurance money, but said they did not want to rent for the rest of their lives and wanted to be freehold again.
The couple want to stay in the Havelock or Canvastown area. They are renting a house in Havelock and trying to salvage what they can from their property, including Mr Manning's vintage radio collection. About half the 1000 radios were ruined after the heavy rains on December 27 and 28, but could still be used for spare parts.
Marlborough District Council assets and services manager Mark Wheeler said council staff would meet with Wakamarina and Canvastown residents this week to discuss ways to minimise damage in the valley during the next flood. This includes putting in place warning systems and communications systems.
The area was one of the worst affected areas during the heavy rains in late December, he said.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
EMPTY SHELL: The Wakamarina home of Alan and Janet Manning, who do not intend to rebuild because of fears it could be flooded again.
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