Ryman Healthcare has been issued with two notices to fix which identified 162 issues in the townhouses. Photo / Warren Buckland
Ryman Healthcare has been issued with two notices to fix which identified 162 issues in the townhouses. Photo / Warren Buckland
Two notices to fix have revealed further information about faults identified in the building of the James Wattie retirement village in Havelock North.
Hastings District Council issued Ryman Healthcare with two notices to fix on August 26 and 31 that identified 162 issues which haven't complied with the Building Code.
The issues relate to the townhouses and include overhanging cladding up to 40mm, over excavation of ground resulting in undermined slab floors, poor electrical installation and bricks which aren't level.
The council requires repairs be made by November 2.
They're not new faults, Ryman corporate affairs manager David King says, but have been brought up as Ryman asked for a detailed list of every issue that needs fixing.
He said they are the same issues previously identified which have been consolidated in replacement notices to fix which cover each townhouse and each stage of the build.
"It is like a work schedule per building – so we know exactly where we stand and what needs to be done."
There is "a lot of repetition" in the 162 issues and many are requests for more information, but it boils down to an average of 6.75 issues per townhouse to address.
Overhanging cladding is one of the issues which was identified. Photo / Supplied
Ryman had previously been issued with two notices to fix on June 26 and July 10.
Hastings District Council group manager planning and regulatory services John O'Shaughnessy said these have expired.
The build has 10 stages and due to a "significant number" of issues found in stages 2, 3 and 4, notices to fix were issued for stages 2 and 3, he said.
King said many of the issues have been fixed or are in the process of being fixed and Ryman is in ongoing discussions with the council about agreed ways to correct them.
The first buyers went through the development on August 23 and will be compensated for any delays on the intended September 21 move-in date.
Compensation will include covering the residents' accommodation costs while they are delayed and any extra removal costs.
"We are happy to admit there were things we could have done better and we have needed to fix.
"That is building, and why the building inspection process exists. Where we get things wrong, we rectify them and learn from them.
"Obviously, we wish we had zero defects to fix on site, but that is not how building works."
Debris in cavities is another issue identified. Photo / Supplied
King said there were a lot causes of the problems including human error, weather issues, skills and materials shortages and Covid-19.
Ryman uses a combination of local labour and contractors on the site as well as its own team and a few contractors from outside Hawke's Bay.
This week there are about 110 workers on-site and building is continuing.
"We stand by the quality of the homes. We are ultimately the owner of them, so no one is more motivated to build them to a high standard than us," King said.
