Bead drawn on derelict properties

BANDING TOGETHER: Rotorua District Council is suggesting councils should band together to force a law change regarding derelict buildings.

The end of dilapidated eyesores in Wairarapa could become a reality if councils around the country support a law change.

Rotorua District Council mayor Steve Chadwick sent a letter to other councils including South Wairarapa District Council, asking if it would support a possible solution to a frustrating issue for some South Wairarapa residents. "We would support any initiative to resolve this issue," said Murray Buchanan, SWDC's planning and environment manager.

"I don't think many councils wouldn't support it, to be honest."

The council had drafted a bylaw to deal with dilapidated commercial buildings but councillors voted not to introduce it because legally, it was too risky and if taken to court, could become expensive.

"There's no legal mechanism to make owners do things," said Mr Buchanan.

In the letter, Mrs Chadwick said unsightly properties were a problem her council had been dealing with for a long time.

"We believe a possible solution to this issue would be to include a definition for derelict sites in the Building Act 2004."

Then councils could include such properties in their Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy, allowing them to take action.

The Building Act requires that every council has a policy for dangerous and insanitary buildings.

She said under the current law, it could be a long and costly court process to force unwilling owners to tidy up properties.

It was also extremely difficult to prove that a building was in such a bad state of repair, that it must be fixed or demolished.

"There is an extremely high threshold that must be met before the courts will make a judgement against a landowner."

"Any action that can be taken against landowners has to meet other definitions such as being a nuisance, dangerous or insanitary."

In one case, it took eight years for the Rotorua council to demolish one derelict building.

The council proposes to take the issue to central government to change the legislation with the support of other councils.

The issue has been a sore point in Featherston and recent consultation on Featherston's town centre shows many people want the "ramshackle properties" to be pulled down.

"We need to lift our game in our presentation of the city," one resident said.