If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
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".
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.
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.
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?
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.
An Auckland Council IT project originally budgeted to cost $71 million should be delivered for the new cost of $172 million, says a senior council executive.
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.
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.
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.
Comment