All fixed and everyone happy

The dangerous balconies have been replaced and other renovation work done. Photo / Richard Robinson

Townhouse owners in a big Newmarket block which once had dangerous balconies say their homes have been fixed and they are happy with the result.

Brian Meale, Kirsty Shrimski and Carroll Finlayson live in The Terraces at 118 Broadway above a Tournament parking building, across the road from Freedom Furniture near the foot of Khyber Pass Rd.

Six years ago, the Auckland City Council issued dangerous building notices on 17 of the 43 apartments because of their timber cantilevered balconies.

Building chief Bob de Leur said then that the decks were extremely dangerous. If further inspections showed floors to be rotting, some apartments might need to be vacated, he said.

Concerns centred on the possibility of a balcony toppling on to the railway track underneath.

Now, all the balconies have been replaced, a new roof is on, interior and exterior building work is finished, new kitchens and double-glazed windows and ranch-sliders have been installed, new carpet has been laid and the building has been re-clad, and the builders are nearly ready to leave.

The townhouses have been repainted, a leaky courtyard has been fixed and new wing walls built between the units.

Clearwater Construction fixed all 43 townhouses on the seventh floor of the block and owners can now gradually shift back.

Mr Meale said the the job was a success and he praised developer L & Y Holdings, Clearwater site manager Scott Hunter, Colin Johnson from the body corporate and Tim Rainey of Rainey Law.

Mr Rainey said the outcome for everyone was successful, although it took a long time and High Court proceedings.

"It shows what can be achieved," he said.

Mr Hunter said the work was more extensive than initially planned.

"The project got bigger as it went along. Most of the units had mould and we had to wear protective gear - overalls, face masks and gloves. Pulling a building like this apart, you're not sure what you'll find."

The owners lodged a court claim against various parties, including the city council for $5 million but it is understood the repairs cost closer to $8 million, with a contribution from owners.

Mr Meale said a confidential settlement was reached between the parties but he hoped other leaky building victims would take heart from the work.

"We had regular meetings with the builders," he said.

" The role of the L & Y principal Eric Yeo has been important in the process. Fortnightly meetings were held between the parties and the work has gone smoothly.

"The owners hope that this work, which is nearly completed and ahead of schedule, will encourage other leaky building owners to fix their places.

"This has been done without any assistance from the Government."