Bach owners get time to comply

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 6

Bach owners get time to comply

Owners of a Taylors Mistake bach which was partly demolished in a 1975 landslide would have until May 31 to start restoring it so that it could be kept until 1986, the Christchurch City Council’s housing and property committee decided yesterday.

Persons who cannot obtain) electric lavatories bv the ear-: lier March 31 deadline be-; cause they have no electricity| will get another chance to! explain how they plan to get) rid of human waste in a wav 'acceptable to the Health Department. Nine baches are in )that category. No replies to council lease I requirements have been re- ! reived from 23 bach owners, (including the nine who canjnot be attached to a power 1 supply. Some derelict baches a t e being cleared bv the Tavlors Mistake Surf Club. i Advice from 31 owners indicated that they would ac■cept council conditions and

another five indicated condi-I tiona! acceptance. Councillors recommended that the full council seek a Supreme Court declaration concerning its right to possess the bach land and grant licences to persons who refuse to comply with sanitarv conditions after the end of this month. Cr Helen Garrett said she was concerned that the council was “being a bit overzealous. Many of th°se people have put a lot into their own properties and into the bav itself” by looking after the welfare of visitors to the area. There was no guarantee that electric lavatories would

be effective, and thev might - create a smell problem. “I can ensure the committee that there has been no undue haste,” said the chairman (Cr Mollie Clark). “We are just jogging along. Every aspect will be viewed with reason and care.” ! The housing and property director (Mr K. R. McNeil) said that similar action to remove baches from public land was taking place throughout New Zealand. Electric lavatories were not regarded as a panacea but simply a way to let the baches remain until 1986 without adding to a healthproblem.