Crackdown on residents who concrete over lawns 

Auckland City enforcement officers are cracking down on residents who rip up their lawns and gardens and replace them with concrete.

Many properties breach council rules about how much of a section can be covered with a house and paved areas and how much should be in permeable grass and garden areas.

A survey of 120 properties in Mt Roskill found 71 per cent breached the rules, says senior compliance manager Warren Adler.

The results prompted the council to do more about enforcing the rules and educating home owners about what they can do on their properties.

As the city becomes covered with buildings, roads and other paved surfaces, pressure on the city's stormwater increases, as does the likelihood of flooding and water pollution. Permeable surfaces let water soak into the ground instead of running off and overloading the stormwater system.

Generally, the rules for residential property stipulate that the house, sheds and decking cannot exceed 35 per cent of the land area and 25 per cent can be covered in paving and other impermeable surfaces like concrete driveways.

The other 40 per cent must be in grass and garden areas to allow water to soak into the soil. The rules vary with the zoning of the property.

Mr Adler said enforcing the rules could involve concrete cutters and the removal of pavers.

The council is also getting tough with a number of other bylaw breaches, including town centre clutter in relation to illegal signs, street trading and verandas; offences against protected trees; illegal rubbish dumping; and issues arising from building projects such as muddy roads, storing building materials on roadside berms and damaging footpaths.

Planning and regulatory committee chairwoman Glenda Fryer said anyone who witnessed illegal activities should contact the council on 379-2020.