Developers need help, says Peach

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 442, 30 June 1992, Page 1

Developers need help, says Peach

Developers face too big a tangle of red tape and could be put off investing in the southem Ruapehu District, believes councillor Bill Peach. Mr Peach submitted to the Ruapehu District Council that $5000 should be provided to pay for additional regulatory services for the district, in the Annual Plan. "At present there is a tangle of interacting regulations which are addressed only as and when they come up," said Mr Peach. "We know of people who have started down a development course, not lasted the distance and taken their development dollars elsewhere." He said planners, building inspectors

plumbing and drainage inspectors should take a proactive role to make projects happen. The idea would see council officers helping with obtaining neighbours' permission for resource consents etc and sorting out problems, fees and conditions right on site at the preliminary investigation." "At the moment decrees arrive from Taumarunui with no appreciation of what is involved," he said. The answer was not more money, but to look more ca^efully at how the council processes applications, said General Manager Cliff Houston. He said the council currently had six different district schemes to administer,

which was cumbersome. They also have no planner at present, the previous one having resigned and a replacement yet to be found. "We want to be as proactive as possible but while we can guide people through the 'minefield' council cannot be seen to support a particular development at the expense of other ratepayers." He said the council also acts as regulators of development. "We are trying to improve our customer relations in this area but we also have to act as policeman in many cases." "Sometimes when people think we're being obstructive it could be that we are protecting the interests of tjie wider community."