Buller council gets nod to remove buildings

Press, 13 March 1985, Page 6

Buller council gets nod to remove buildings

Westport reporter

The Buller County Council has successfully applied for a court order to remove all unauthorised buildings at the Stone Kingdom Trust farm at Te Namu, 80 kilometres north of Westport. Judge McAloon made this decision after hearing evidence from the council’s planning officer and building inspector, Mr Colin Comber, in the District Court at Westport yesterday.

The Judge repeatedly invited the eight male trust leaders, who were present in court, to question any of the evidence or provide a defence.

However, they politely, refused and remained silent throughout the proceedings. They showed no emotion at the decision authorising the removal of the trust’s 18 tents plus ancillary build-

Ings which the 24 members have been living in for more than two years. The Buller County Clerk, Mr Max Elley, said yesterday that the religious commune would be advised well in advance of any subsequent action.

Mr Comber, the county engineer, Mr John Spooner, the works overseer, Mr Pat Garing, and Mr Elley will be meeting to discuss the best manner to apply the court order. The recommendations from this meeting should be ready to go before the full council meeting on March 20 for final approval.

Yesterday’s court action stemmed from the trust’s planning application to build permanent accommodation in September, 1982. The council granted this a month later subject to three conditions. However, the trust has made no effort to adhere to the terms of the planning consent and has continued to live in tents.

Council by-laws allow temporary tent accommodation for only four weeks. Judge McAloon in his summing up said that the trust’s tents and ancillary buildings were not in accordance with the terms of the planning consent. The ancillary buildings include a slaughter house, ablution block and concrete pads.