The Upper Selwyn Huts were on Crown land and managed by Selwyn District Council.
Climate change was the main reason for the council’s eviction notice, with modelling showing rising sea and lake levels might put the settlement at risk.
Nearby Greenpark Huts would be vacated by the end of June this year for similar reasons, while the Lower Selwyn Huts have until 2034.
Fea said people were given no warning, which had been the hardest thing.
“It’s come out of the blue and the reasons they’re giving us, they don’t justify the 15 years maximum.”
Fea said residents would be urging the council at the public meeting to reconsider its decision – ideally they would like 30 years before they have to leave.
The council’s report said delaying eviction for 20 years or more was not recommended, partly because of the greater risk that climate-related weather events would pose to health and safety.
Fea said people wanted more time.
“If climate change is going to affect us here we should be leaving when it actually starts to affect us. It hasn’t affected us yet and the modelling says it won’t affect us for 25 years.”
Selwyn District Council executive director enabling services Tim Harris said council had signalled in 2019 that hut licences would be for a finite period because of the risks and costs to people living there.
The timing was in line with other lakeside hut communities around Lake Ellesmere.
“We understand this is a difficult time for the hut community as we work through this with them.”
RNZ