Sort out 15-year 'eyesore', locals plead

WORK IN PROGRESS: This Glenrowan Rise home has been the subject of a petition by its neighbours who want to see the property completed after at least 15 years of construction. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN

A Bethehem house which has been under construction for at least 15 years has sparked a petition from neighbours who want the "eyesore" completed.

Residents of seven properties neighbouring the Glenrowan Rise house signed a petition to the Tauranga City Council asking "for any action you can take to hasten the progress of completion of this building" that they said had been under construction for about 15 years.

The council received the petition at a meeting yesterday but found there was no enforcement action available.

Contrary to popular belief, a building consent did not lapse after two years and there was no legal obligation for the owner to finish the building work provided it complied with the Building Act or building regulations.

The council could only step in if the building was dangerous or unsanitary, or if there was non-compliance with the Building Act.

According to council records, the Glenrowan Rise house was first issued a consent in 1996 and during that year, foundations, a garage floor slab and drainage were completed.

In 2009, cladding had still not been completed and building wrap had been installed.

Residents said that in the last few weeks most of the exterior had been clad in bricks.

There were still obvious unfinished areas when the Bay of Plenty Times visited yesterday.

The owners were not at home and their phone number was unlisted.

Neighbour Zenda Johns has lived in the area since 2000 and said that she had signed the petition because the house was a "bit of an eyesore".

She was pleased about the work carried out in recent weeks.

"You drive up the street and see this house. It's in a prominent site," she said.

"I don't know what the owners' reasons are why it's not finished or why it's how it is.

"Hopefully by signing the petition it will encourage them to get something done."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said she and her husband had lived in the neighbourhood for two-and-a-half years and the incomplete property was "awfully messy".

"One of the neighbours in this area has been very upset about it," she said. "The owners have tidied it up immensely.

"The place has just never been finished off, people would just like to see it tidied up."

Councillor Steve Morris (pictured left) pointed out that he had been sitting his School Certificate when the Glenrowan Rise house was being built.

"It hasn't finished since then. I have no doubt it would have affected the saleability or prices of nearby homes," Mr Morris said.