House bus couple to hear fate

by Matthew Martin matthew.martin@dailypost.co.nz
Allan and Donna Russell will know soon if they can continue living in a house bus on their rural property.

The Rotorua District Council's statutory hearing committee were to hear the motorhome dwellers' resource consent application today.

The Russells have been locking horns with the council for more than a year over what they have to do to seek permission to live in a motorhome on their Kaharoa property. After years of living in a mobile home, the couple decided to settle down so their children could go to school. They bought a property at Kaharoa, renting out the house on the site and choosing to live in their motor home. A complaint from a neighbour led to the council investigating.

Two dwellings on one property are not allowed unless special consent is granted. After receiving conflicting information about exactly what type of consent they needed, the family were delivered an official ultimatum - move out or face possible legal action.

The Russells were asked by the council to lodge a "limited notified land use consent" application. Due to the nature of the application, only their direct neighbours could lodge submissions for or against it.

Only one submission was received by the council, from the Russells' neighbours, Derek and Christine Holloway.

In their submission they stated their concerns included increased traffic, saying they monitored traffic movements from the Russells' property over 28 days that showed an average of 29 vehicle movements per day. They also objected to the noise created by Mr Russell working in his shed during the day.

"This noise is from electrical equipment and goes on for several hours most days," their submission stated.

Mrs Russell told The Daily Post she was confident the council would look favourably on their request. She described the Holloways' submission as ridiculous and unsubstantiated.

"Yes, we are confident but are wary of what conditions the council may place on its decision."