My drive-way from the footpath to front boundary has sunk a bit over the years so need to dig it up, put in new basecourse and relay the blocks. There are, as per the Auckland council plan, three water pipes running across this area. Other houses in the area have concrete to their boundary but as I built some time later I cut through my drive and blocked it myself. Will be ringing the council to ask this same question but would like your imput so I have an idea of my position. Is the council required to protect the water pipes and say concrete up to my boundary. Total of 4 meters. They were not put in deep enough initially so when I leveled the area the pipes are now only about 200mm under the surface. This is after I had them lowered so I could put in my drive.
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Umm may depend on your council Opinionated.......A couple in Kapiti have a 900 sqm berm outside their house that the council say is their responsibility to keep mowed, looked after etc. The couple are in their 80s and the berm is larger than their own section by a long shot. The council say 'tough' you pay for it's upkeep. There's no stopping the council on this issue either - the couple can not get any relief from the Govt as they say it's not a berm as it's too large - the council say it definitely is and look after it! In the meantime the old couple are getting stressed - as you would.
So it may come down to how you communicate with the council opinionated - the shortage of $$ will mean there will more than likely be a shift of responsibility to you or at least a share in the remediation.
I have a current issue with a berm too - it's in another discussion here on Propertytalk - I think I have done well out of it but it took a lot of effort - right wording and an argument that suggested more $$ to them if they didn't come to the party.
Good luck with your battle and let us know how you get on.
cheers,
Donna
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Donna, keleri,
Looks like Campbell Live tonight is talking about council responsibilities for mowing berms. Might be worth a look, but if its a typical Campbell Live, its probably a once over lightly treatment, with extra added outrage on behalf of the undertrodden. YMMV.Comment
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......and to those in the Auckland City council region, what are the opinions around being told to mow THEIR berms. Personally of the opinion that its their land, their obligation to maintain etc, and if they cant afford it, they should cease funding some of the free events they put on etc.Last edited by TheLibrary; 07-10-2013, 06:06 PM.Comment
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Absolutely, 1000% agree with you. Don't get me started on local government...Originally posted by TheLibrary View Post
Councils exist to maintain sewers, parks and roads. Our council is $6b+ in debt and their solution is to stop mowing their own property, to the detriment of the beauty of the city.... I say Len Brown has utterly failed and has got to go.
The shame with local body politicians is that even the right wing ones who stand on a low rates platform utterly fail at reining in costs or rates once elected (John Banks a classic example). I guess ego takes over and they start seeing themselves as public figures or political luminaries so they focus on giving money to any group that wants it, instead of focusing on what should be core council responsibilities.
Its like a great philosopher once said. If you can't manage your own credit card, you probably can't manage a city. (the same philosopher also said buying christmas hams and personal stereos with your employer's credit card is probably fraud, unless you are a politician).Tax and trust lawyerComment
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Mow your own berms you lazy bermers.
The council doesn't have money to waste on such frivolities.
They operate on skeleton staff, no one is overpaid, and all employees spend each and every minute of the working day on council business.
They don't have any time to waste you know, it's all go go go, every minute of the day.
It's not as if they browse the internet on non council business at work.
$800,000 salaries for top city staff the market rate, says mayor
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11134465The just-published 2013 annual report shows council chief executive Doug McKay's salary increased by $15,656 to $782,887 and Watercare CEO Mark Ford's salary rose $70,000 to between $780,000 and $790,000.
In the same year, the number of council staff earning more than $100,000 rose to 1500, and 113 staff earned more than $200,000.Last edited by speights boy; 07-10-2013, 06:04 PM.Comment
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The joys of apartment living...no gardeningOriginally posted by speights boy View Post
Interesting stats SB.... They say you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. We are paying through the nose and still getting poor council performance,Tax and trust lawyerComment
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I take it you are being sarcastic speights boy.......but if not.........I came home early from work to mow the lawns..........and DID NOT mow the berm, but could have easily have done so...........Originally posted by speights boy View PostComment
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Indeed my Literary friend.Originally posted by TheLibrary View Post
I am amazed that we have 1,500 council employees on over $100,000pa.
Betcha some of those are simply filling in the day by finding work for the person in the office next door, or some independent contractor.Last edited by speights boy; 07-10-2013, 06:20 PM.Comment
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Don't forget spin doctors and policy analysts SBTax and trust lawyerComment
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