Councils Holding the Country to Ransom

[motivated]

Read Sunday star times on local body Red Tape
Someone who knows how might be able to put a link to it

The Cost of Red Tape

[Perry]

Interesting comment:

Dare, who keeps minutes of meetings he has with officials, gives the
example of a proposed apartment project in Onehunga Mall, which
would have added 180 flats near to shops and public transport, but
which was abandoned "due to council officer risk".

[eri]

i agree 100% with the guy!

i think "council officer risk"

mean that even though the project was 100% within the written rules

there was a feeling that council officers wouldn't approve it without expensive changes

as what they "wanted" had now changed from what the written rules "required"

this council needs a thorough clean out

bet they're all writing their golden parachute packages into law right now

[Bob Kane]

I liked the term ''ultra vires''

Among Dare's greatest concerns is the power the council, council officers and urban designers have, and their willingness to try to control developers' actions in ways he believes are "ultra vires" - beyond their legal powers.


Dare, who keeps minutes of meetings he has with officials, gives the example of a proposed apartment project in Onehunga Mall, which would have added 180 flats near to shops and public transport, but which was abandoned "due to council officer risk".


Dare said at a pre-purchase meeting, where developers check with council to get a feel for whether it's worth buying land, a council urban designer "went ultra vires" asking for a different architect, requiring fewer floors, demanding retail on the ground floor and a cut in the number of units.


Dare said an application for a special housing area he was involved with had been turned down twice, both times for reasons that were outside the council's remit, when other less suitable SHAs had been granted.


Dare said he had now had so many fights with the council, he was willing to speak out, though developers dare not.

It seems these council urban designers cannot be challenged which is a bit unfair.

[motivated]

Why is a council urban designers OPINION any more valid than anyone elses? I have seen one finished product where an urban designer had an input and the town planner was suitably impressed. Some of the points they forced detracted from the finished product in my OPINION. Basically who says they are right.

[Davo36]

I really liked that article. It's exactly how it is out there.

I won't bleat on about it in depth, all been said before. It's gotta change for the sake of ordinary NZers.

[eri]

$40,000 fine for repeatedly riding quad bikes without helmet on private land

smacks of bureaucrats furious at being ignored

lots of talk of 'safety'

you need a helmet on a motorcycle as when you fall off at speed you head hits the road or curb

not quite as important on a bicycle but still needed as cars slam cyclists onto road.............if not worn $40 fine?

quad bikes are dangerous because they can and do roll over on riders.......helmets no use preventing spine injuries or crushed chests

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/64225722/40000-fine-for-no-quad-bike-helmets

will farmers get $40,000 fines for not wearing lap belts?

how about $40,000 fines for council workers who won't stick to their own rules?

start with brown's misuse of credit cards as manukau mayor

then fine planners who have made housing unaffordable by going outside the rules

meanwhile, repeatedly urinate in public spaces

and you'll probably be offered a free xmas lunch

after attending free concert

youths cause $20,000 damage to auckland rail stations

truly the bar is set too high to be a good citizen

and too low to be a mongrel

if you have no assets

the only crime that attracts attention is blood dripping violence

however if you have confiscatable assets

even minor infractions result in massive fines

no longer 1 law for all?

laws + penalties now based on 'equal outcomes'?

and the left wonders why middle earth

has left them

[Damap]

Interesting point that leftist cronyism is worse than the right. It's like communist and socialist nations they are typically more corrupt. Part of the psyche?

[eri]

they have a deep, deep, deep

special knowledge

that they are better than the majority

because they care

this allows them

to give each other a special latitude

not allowed those who don't 'feel the pain of others'

as they do

lenin unashamedly

prepared to break a few eggs (kill lots of people)

for for an omelette (russia's revolution)

[Damap]

Yes. Although that is also about dehumanisation. It is the underlying principle of abortionists, Hitler, White America etc.etc. Turn a person into a thing and then other people will let you do whatever you like to them.

[eri]

quick survey of auckland rate payers

do you care more about?

A - continual rates rises above the rate of inflation

or

B - "not being able to book learn-to-swim programmes online."

the current council have proven 'financial prudence' is beyond them

vote in a new council that hasn't lost touch with rate payers and doesn't think cost overruns of 140%? are acceptable on a 'vanity' project.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11375898

[eri]

Political pressure is mounting on National MPs to make changes to the Resource Management Act following the prosecution of a Waikato farmer's company.

New Zealand First primary industries spokesman Richard Prosser labelled the decision to fine farmer Bas Nelis' company $16,875 a "mad council decision".

Nelis was nailed with the fine a week ago by the Environment Court for unlawful use of land and disturbing the river bed when he tried to carry out work to plant native trees.

In a press release, Prosser suggested Waikato Regional Council bureaucrats who prosecuted Nelis should seek employment in North Korea.

"To the average person, having to seek permission to clear noxious weeds and pest plants on your own land seems insane, but that's how pedantic and misguided things have become under this government.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farm...rmer-cops-fine

[Davo36]

Sounds idiotic at first glance but I'd like to see some photos of before and after to really understand just what went on there.

I grow native trees myself in West Auckland an plant them on my parents farm at the Manukau Heads. So really value what he's doing - and heaps of other farmers are doing, but I just get the feeling from this story that we're not hearing the whole story on this.

[eri]

The details of the case are now a matter of public record, but what I find disturbing was the fact that the defendant pleaded guilty and even the WRC requested he be convicted and discharged, due to remediation and restorative justice having been initiated by the defendant. Judge Harland still imposed a $16,875 fine as well as a conviction.

In doing so she quotes from the Sentencing Act 2002 about how she is duty bound to arrive at such a decision, when it appears there is more than enough recent case law to suggest otherwise.

Interestingly, public persons found guilty of some moderate to serious criminal charges are discharged without conviction because it is thought that a conviction would be a slur to their character, and may affect future employment prospects.

The difference, that these individuals are national sporting representatives who want to travel the world pursuing their dream.

Unfortunately for the rest of the New Zealand public this benevolence from the judiciary apparently does not exist. It appears that it is Bas's bad luck that he is not a sports star of any note, and that playing in the Putararu 3rd grade rugby team 10 years ago has no meaning in the eyes of the justice system.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/opinion/64526131/farming-fines-look-more-like-bullying-than-justice

[eri]

may as well be landlords

the way the 'system' is going after farmers

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farm...lling-dairying...

the medium term aim of such concerted action seems to be to make some of the responsible carry some of the irresponsible

but the longer term result is a reduction of the number of the responsibles and corresponding increase in the irresponsibles

if the carrot and stick is back to front

it won't end well