26 Aug 2008

Slip threatens North Shore homes

10:08 am on 26 August 2008

Engineers will conduct further examinations on Tuesday of several houses threatened by a slip on Auckland's North Shore.

North Shore City Council says about five properties have been affected by a slip in on the Albany Highway in the suburb of Unsworth Heights.

Three homes were evacuated on Monday night and remain cordoned off. Gas and power have been cut to homes considered high risk.

The council's acting communications manager, Blair Harkness, told Morning Report on Tuesday that most of those evacuated stayed with friends or relatives, and one family spent the night in a motel.

Meanwhile, there has been another slip near a group of townhouses in St Mary's Bay overlooking the Auckland harbour bridge.

There has been no evacuations there, although the Auckland City Council is expected to review the situation on Tuesday.

Manukau City Council says it will review another slip that is about 500 cubic metres, which has blocked the main road to Kawakawa Bay.