A letter from hundreds of Christchurch coastal residents calling for a government intervention has been changing hands in Parliament.

The letter follows an engineering report by Tonkin and Taylor prepared for council, identifying almost 18,000 properties at risk of coastal flooding.

The letter's been received by the Prime Minister but has now changed hands.

It's passed to Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee who'll consider the request this week.

The letter states council's taking an ultra-precautionary approach, without considering coastal communities.

New Brighton resident Sir Tipene O'Regan believes a national approach's needed for a decision that has such far-reaching repercussions.

"Why not cover the whole of Christchurch with this consideration, and what level of mitigation is reasonable? Rather than just locking places out and wrecking lives and wrecking a huge amount of rateable value."

Meanwhile, the Christchurch City Council's awaiting a decision by the Independent Hearings Panel, over an extension for public submissions over the report.

A decision's expected before the deadline on Friday.