It was probably a shaky night for Abdullah Alenezi.<\/p>\n
The University of Otago biomedical sciences student, from Kuwait, was due to move into his new apartment in Belmont Lane.<\/p>\n
But early yesterday, he and his family had received a call from police and the city council about a landslip that would prevent them from accessing the apartment.<\/p>\n
Mr Alenezi had been staying with his father and sister at an Airbnb for the past week.<\/p>\n
They were “devastated” by the news.<\/p>\n
“We had literally nowhere else to go,” Mr Alenezi said.<\/p>\n
“Everything has been booked out. The nearest place to stay was about two hours\u2019 drive away, which obviously doesn’t help if I want to study.”<\/p>\n
During the day heavy rain had forced seven properties to be evacuated after a section of the steep bank below Belmont Lane fell on to Portobello Rd near Portsmouth Dr.<\/p>\n
By the afternoon, the Dunedin City Council said all properties bar one were accessible.<\/p>\n
This included the apartment, which was part of the same structure and on the same title as the home that was declared unsafe to re-enter.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had building services staff and geotechnical experts on site, and as a result all houses have been cleared for occupants to return except the one property issued with a dangerous building notice,” a council spokeswoman said.<\/p>\n
“An engineering report will follow.”<\/p>\n
Mr Alenezi was “relieved” the council had decided the apartment was safe.<\/p>\n
“It’s really matching with my vibe. So I was so sad if they said that they will take it away from me.”<\/p>\n
However, he had to spend his first night in the apartment in semi-darkness, as the electricity was out.<\/p>\n
Despite the turmoil, Mr Alenezi said he was looking forward to studying and living in Dunedin.<\/p>\n
He hoped to be on firmer ground soon.<\/p>\n