Ask Phoebe: Street number display owners' responsibility

Photo / Michael Craig

Council says it does not have resources to police compliance

Q: So many of our commercial buildings do not have street numbers that are visible. This is so frustrating in wasting time, causing more traffic jams, increased fuel consumption and pollution. I wrote to Len Brown's office, and this is what I received. What do you think?
— Richard Macdonald, Auckland

A: Herewith the letter from the mayor's office, slightly abridged, and reprinted with Mr Macdonald's permission: "The allocation of street numbers is Auckland Council's responsibility. Council can allocate street numbers to any area of land, or building, or part of a building (for example an apartment) and can change existing addresses pursuant to s.319B Local Government Act 1974.

"The owner or occupant has the responsibility to visibly display the official address and to maintain the displayed number, pursuant to Part 20.7.2 and Part 20.7.3 of the Auckland City Consolidated Bylaw 1998. These responsibilities ensure that a consistent street numbering system can be established and that properties can be easily identified and located by visitors, postal services and the emergency services.

"As street numbering officers, we recommend the numbers are clearly displayed and are easily seen from the street. Street numbers for residential buildings must be 75mm or more in height and 150mm or more for all other buildings. Council do not have the resources to police every allocation once implemented, as this responsibility lies with the owners."

I think that is a perfectly reasonable response.

However, Mr Macdonald disagrees, and thinks that the mayor should talk about this in public and shame commercial building owners into complying with the local law. What do you think?

Q: After entering the gates of Cornwall Park at the Campbell Rd/Onehunga Mall roundabout, you enter Grand Drive in Cornwall Park. At the end of this road there is a gate which leads to Twin Oaks Drive.

Sometimes this gate is open and at other times it is locked shut. There seems to be no set time when this gate is opened or locked.

We often go out of our way to take advantage of our beautiful park. Are there supposed to be certain people to do this job, or is it just up to the whim of one of the park staff who is a bit forgetful/slack/lazy?
— Jenny and Chris North, Onehunga

A: Cornwall Park director Michael Ayrton says the through access from Campbell Rd to Greenlane West was closed off some 30 years ago as many people were simply using this as a short cut, causing queues of traffic from one side of the park to the other, which was not its intended purpose.

The then trustees wisely closed it off and it is now only used as a service access for staff and contractors maintaining the park.

The public should not rely on it as a shortcut from Greenlane to Campbell Rd. The park is provided as a place for recreation and enjoyment, not as a convenient through road.