Council counters Holmes show ski lodge story

Ruapehu Bulletin, 10 September 1991, Page 3

Council counters Holmes show ski lodge story

"Where there is a complete and utter disregard for the district scheme and bylaws there is just no room for the council to manoeuvre in." Those were the closing words from Ruapehu District Council general manager in a press statement following Television New Zealand's Holmes Show coverage of the RDC-Warren Birkhead affair Monday last week. Mr Houston said the show was very one sided and he was disappointed in the way the case was presented on television. Points made by Mr Houston following the programme included: # There was and is no planning consent for the proposed use of the property • An application for planning consent has been lodged albeit somewhat late.

Adjacent property owners have objected. A hearing is to be held on 20 September and consent may or may not be granted. With appeal rights for both Mr Birkhead and the objectors, the matter may not be resolved for several months. • Whilst in the meantime Mr Birkhead has substantially improved his property he was fully aware, before he commenced work, that he could not operate until such time as a planning consent was obtained. • The Council has a commitment to enforce the provisions of its district schemes and bylaws. However, because resources are limited, emphasis is placed on correcting the most serious breaches. Council is addressing the issue of noncompliance in a number of areas. Time is required to correct the situation. • The Council would have been clearly

derelict in its duty if it had not taken every avenue open to it to cause his operation to cease immediately. The operator of the unlicensed ski lodge in Miro Street Ohakune, Warren Birkhead (also known as Warren Mack) took his case to the Holmes Show after having no luck with the council or the district court. The courts had placed an injunction on the operator stopping his activity, at the request of the council. He did not have the necessary town planning consent to operate and, at the time of the injunction, his lodge violated health, fire and safety regulations. Mr Houston said re-licensing inspections have in the past been carried out in July/August but the council is considering inspections in April- June, ready for the ski season.