No action taken against 'Insanitary' Local Eye Sore; Councillor says “There are many houses like that through the city"
Read the council update and hear from Burwood Councillor, Kelly Barber; take part in 2 polls; and The Wigram asks whether abandoned sites is an issue for the central city.
Pictured: 361a Pages Road, Aranui.
Pictured: The IRD building on the corner of Madras and Cashel Streets.
The Christchurch City Council’s hands appear to be tied over a fire-damaged property at 361 Pages Road. Councillor for Burwood Ward has said “there are many houses like that through the city, some are derelict, some are lived in some are not lived in.”
He says “The difficulty for us, is unless there's a very good reason, i.e. health concerns, rats, fire risk, and that’s more to do with grass than anything, there’s nothing we can do. There's very little we can do because these are private properties.”
The problem of derelict properties also extends to the central city, which continues to host several abandoned sites and buildings.
361a Pages Road - The Council’s Verdict
The Christchurch City Council has deemed a fire-gutted house as ‘insanitary’ but has decided not to take action against the owner, a banned financial planner, because “there is no immediate safety or health issues that require” it “to step in and carry out the work.”
As previously reported the house has been abandoned since the Canterbury earthquakes and was engulfed in fire last year. John*, a local, said tagging is done at night and he has seen people entering the house but was away the day of the fire. He said a neighbouring family had to vacate at the time. John last saw the owner Mr. Walter Yaolong Guan mowing the lawns last year.
(* the locals mentioned have all been given fictious names.)
Previously, Weston wrote that in “September 2022, Compliance Staff responded to a report of a dangerous building.”
A member of the public had made the complaint about 361a Pages Road, suggesting “the building was considered dangerous due to the state of the property following an arson attack.”
“We were advised the building had suffered recent fire damage and that it may present a risk to people.”
“Compliance staff engaged with the Engineering Department to assess the property for danger in accordance with the Building Act. The building did not meet the threshold of a dangerous building under the Building Act.”
“The findings of our investigation were shared with the complainant and property owner and the file was closed.”
Mr. Guan was told by council of “the harm caused to the building and suggestions were emailed to” him.
On 24 May 2023, Weston had confirmed that “Given the current state of the property, the Council’s Environmental Health Officer will conduct a review of the building to consider whether it is deemed insanitary under the Building Act.”
Today Weston confirmed that “On 25 May 2023, an Environmental Health Officer conducted a site visit and determined that the property meets the definition of an insanitary building under the Building Act. This is due to moisture ingress and the lack of a potable water supply and inadequate sanitary fixtures for their intended use.”
Weston wrote “No notices were issued in this instance as there is no immediate safety or health issues that require the Christchurch City Council to step in and carry out the work. This is due to the property being abandoned with no lawful occupants. Council has advised the property owner of our findings of this assessment.”
Even though the council does not regard the house as dangerous, local, Sally*, believed the house poses a health and safety risk.
Kelly Barbour viewpoint on derelict properties
361a Pages Road falls within the catchment of Burwood Ward city councillor Kelly Barber. He knew of many properties like this one and has first-hand experience dealing with concerned locals.
Pictured: The Christchurch City Council
Local politician Barber believes communication is the key to resolving issues concerning unkempt and unsightly properties and that too often locals try to involve the council when there’s nothing that it can do. In his mind, an occupant’s mental health could be the cause.
“There are many houses like that through the city, some are derelict, some are lived in some are not lived in,” he said. Barber gave a specific address but asked that it not be made public.
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