Access to building plans supported

Press, 2 September 1983, Page 5

Access to building plans supported

A proposal allowing Heathcote residents access to their neighbours’ building plans was accepted at last evening’s meeting of the County Council’s works and reserves committee.

The proposed amendment to the county’s by-laws had first been raised by the County Chairman, Mr W. M. Hindmarsh, at the committee’s July meeting. The present by-law allowed only the home-owner and the builder to view the building plans and related documents, but Mr Hindmarsh wanted this changed so that any building disputes could be resolved in the planning stages. • In the draft accepted at last evening’s meeting he said that inspection of building permits should be allowed by persons other than owner, builder, and authorised agents provided that the building was still under construction, that the person seeking access could confirm in writing that the owner’s consent had not been available, and that this person’s consent would have been sought if a dispensation from the provisions of the District Scheme had been sought.

Mr Hindmarsh said that this did not give the adjoining owner any greater rights than he already had and if the building plans complied with the by-laws and District Scheme no action from the neighbour could stop the building’s going ahead. However, such inspection might also allay any suspicions the neighbour might have about the extent and nature of the proposed development.

Mr Hindmarsh said that he would be surprised to see this used to any great extent.

Accepting this proposal the committee adopted a further recommendation by its chairman, Cr M. J. Taylor, that if this was adopted by the council it should be examined in a year’s time. The committee had sought the opinion of the Canterbury Master Builders and Joiners’ Association on the proposed change and the association replied that it did not believe the proposal should go ahead as it could delay the issuing of building permits and cause friction between neighbours.

It recommended that the proposal should be referred to the Metropolitan ByLaws Committee, which course of action was adopted. Asbestos Written approval had been received from the Health Department and Labour Department for council staff to work on asbestos cement pipes. The County Engineer, Mr D. J. May, said that these were a type of underground water pipe which went out of production about 1970. Report sought The committee decided to ask officers of the Lands and Survey Department to prepare a report on the ecological value of a piece of wetland at the Ferry Road roundabout, bounded by the Tunnel Road and the Heathcote River. The council is considering buying this land, which is owned by the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Pedestrian bridge The feasibility of building

a pedestrian bridge near a new shopping complex in Centaurus Road will be investigated by the County Engineer. Cr B. E. Sutherland said that he was very keen to see such a project go ahead and suggested that the shopping complex developers and the City Council might be interested in contributing to it. Cr Sutherland also said that children had been causing problems by riding their BMX bicycles on a vacant section in Palatine Terrace. He said that it was causing elderly residents in the area a great deal of distress. It was decided that Cr Taylor make an informal approach to the owner of the property. Reserves plans Management plans for the Holliss Avenue, Cashmere Road, Curries Road, and Palatine Terrace reserves were approved by the committee. They detail the council’s objectives and policies for the reserves and will be publicly advertised.