New Standard For Lakeside Cottages

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 35, 20 December 1950, Page 6

New Standard For Lakeside Cottages

In his report to the initial meeting of the newly-elected Rotorua County Council, the engineer, Mr R. S. Martin, tabled a detailed schedule of requirements for lakeside cottages.

In presenting this, Mr Martin stressed the need for some sort of uniformity and stable structure in buildings of the type throughout the county’s area, especially in such areas as Ngongotaha, Tarawera, Okareka, where these “shanty towns” composed of “packing-case buildings,” are becoming prevalent.

To ensure that these cottages conformed with the regulations and sanitary stipulations, he had prepared the report.

“Frequently inquiries are made as to the by-laws and regulations governing lakeside cottages in the county areas and for the benefit of land agents and builders, I have defined the minimum standard for holiday dwellings,” stated the report. “These standards are only for dwellings used intermittently, that is, any house which between April 1 and November 30 in every year is occupied only occasionally for periods not exceeding one month at any time.” For houses in this category, the minimum space for two persons would be 307 square feet. This regulation provided for, adequate and properly inspected sanitary arrangements, and adequate water supply and cooking facilities. All rooms must be lined and ceiled, with two external doors provided to ensure alternative means of egress in case of fire. Windows must be provided in every room and at least one-half of the window space must be opening' to the fresh air. This policy adopted by the council is to prevent the spoiling of the splendid holiday resort within the county area by the building of substandard baches and shanties, and unless cottages comply with the requirements set out, they will not be permitted. At the moment, the Building Control Regulations still will not permit more than 500 square feet of floor space for holiday accommodation, and this must temporarily limit the size of cottages.

The engineer stressed that the requirements were for holiday accommodation only and not for permanent dwellings. In this way it was hoped the co-operation of land agents, vendors, owners and builders in the erection of reasonable standard holiday houses, and the elimination .of unsightly, unsound and insanitary shanties would be obtained.