Peace returns to suburb
Andy Bean and his family can now get a good night’s sleep after months of criminal behaviour at a neighbouring social housing complex has quietened.
The Christchurch man was among many in his neighbourhood suffering burglaries, assaults and faeces being smeared on cars, believed to have stemmed from a Housing New Zealand (HNZ) complex in England St, Phillipstown, in the six months leading up to February.
At the time, Bean said efforts to have HNZ act on the issues went largely unanswered. His 11-year-old son was too afraid to stay in his sleepout and a neighbour, who had lived on the street for 38 years, was considering selling her home.
‘‘They had prostitution happening there, they had domestic violence, they had people receiving stolen goods and I think there was meth dealing going on as well,’’ he said.
Bean became so fed up with the living conditions that he organised a meeting with HNZ and police. More than two dozen residents, neighbours and people living near other Phillipstown social housing complexes went to share their concerns.
Three months later, the trouble-maker tenants appear to have moved out and the situation has improved.
‘‘The only noise that we’re getting from over the fence is actually kids playing in the playground, which is delightful,’’ Bean said.
He wondered how long the peace might last though, especially as HNZ planned to build more higher-density complexes in Christchurch.
‘‘It’s the lack of notification or engagement with the community that frustrates me,’’ he said.
HNZ Christchurch area manager Fraser Benson said plans to build higher-density complexes were shared ‘‘at the appropriate times with the relevant stakeholders’’, including residents, schools, businesses and other HNZ tenants.
The England St complex was one of nine in Phillipstown with more than six units. Benson said HNZ had no plans to build more in the suburb.
‘‘There has only been one complaint since February and that was from one HNZ tenant about another.’’
Police data shows reported crime rose by nearly 20 per cent in the year after the complex was built, with 2563 unique calls to police. The data was incomplete for the year to April, but was expected to drop by at least 200 calls.
Sergeant Mike Kingston said police had ‘‘done some outstanding work’’ to reduce crime in the area.
Claudia Buchner, who has lived in a neighbouring street for about 10 years, said her neighbour was burgled last year but she never had any issues with the HNZ tenants, other than noise.
The overall area ‘‘has changed’’ though, she said.
‘‘The street is definitely not as safe any more.’’