Building faults exposed

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 663, 19 November 1996, Page 3

Building faults exposed

Vincent Ronald Obsborne, 39, builder of Waikanae, pleaded guilty to four charges of working without a building permit and to one charge of intentionally failing to comply with instructions as directed by an officer of the Ruapehu District Council when he appeared in the district court last Thursday. The case was brought to Court by the Ruapehu District Council through their legal counsel, Alan Vane, of Taupo. Obsborne had applied for a building consent on 15 May to bui ld a ski chalet in Park Avenue, Ohakune but, smce the plans did not comply with the Building Code, the application was declined. Alternative plans were then prepared and submitted and approval was given subject to certain changes being made. However, when inspected later some of these requirements had not been met and other problems were discovered including undersize timber ceiling framing, lack of dwangs between wall framing which itself exceeded the recommended spacing and a timber moisture content which was "off the scale". Asked by Judge Lovegrove how and when these matters could be resolved, it was pointed out that all the gib-board linings would have to be removed to allow for the additional framing to be put in place and for the timber to dry out which was just a question of time. Judge Lovegrove then called Mr Vane and Paul Brown (who was representing Obsborne) to chambers and, on returning to Court, said that both prosecution and defence counsel would make written submissions so that a decision on the outcome will be made available (in writing) to both parties at a later date.