DOMS A BIT LATE ON THIS ONE....

Well we predicted this one over two months ago
The Dom gets to it today -
Finally with Bob jones talking about mounting a campaign
we may finally have a decent local body election in front of us....

AQUACULTURE POISED TO HELP TURN THE TIDE ON JOB LOSSES

Now this is the type of story we want to see more of. Proactive councils untangling red tape all in the name of creating an environment for businesses to expand. It is this type of central and local government action that will really grow the economy. The Waikato Times says that The three councils involved in the Coromandel are looking at the ways they can facilitiate the growth of Aquaculture in their areas.

Councils up and down the country should be looking to replicate what is happening in the Coromandel. Aqauculture is a seriously under deveoped industry and both central and local governments should do all they can to promote its rapid growth.

• The Coromandel Peninsula mussel industry employs 400 people.
• Existing mussel farms have waited for 13 years to expand.
• Cutting red tape could allow it to expand to employ another 600 people by 2014.
• Mussel production could rise from 22,000 tonnes to 60,000 making the industry worth up to $122million.

WHY RODNEY NEEDS TO CLEAN UP LOCAL GOVERNMENT

We have a big shed - 120sqm that was built to house specs that may one day become a house on a ten acre block in rural NZ - We camp in it from time to time.

We want to put a toilet and shower and a washbasin in - You would think that would be simple.
The council told us it would be pretty simple - an amendment to the original building consent.

Anyway - we have submitted all the paper work and this particular council says it takes at least 20 working days to process applications. so on day 24 we get this response -

Building Consent Authorities need to be satisfied that compliance with the building code will be met when issuing a Building Consent.
Please forward the following information to prove compliance with the requirements of the NZ building code.

• The submitted documents lack detailed specifications. Would you please provide the written specifications as underpin the already submitted documents as detail the proposed work thereby demonstrating how compliance with the Building code will be achieved for the proposed works.

Please reference the building consent application number when responding to the above request. Approval of this applications has been suspended until your plans and or specifications have been amended to conform with the above comments.

It doesn't even make sense.
We submitted about 30 pages of docs - with all the F***king details. God only knows what you would need to do to build a bloody house!

So it looks like we will have a port loo and solar shower over xmas -

Pissed off doesn't begin to describe how we feel. but I wont name the council because we all know what happens when you piss off the council building inspector - they are more powerful and vindictive than the last Labour Government !