Glenfield project feels heat of leaky building inquiry

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The North Shore City Council is reviewing a 39-unit terraced housing project in Glenfield after revelations that the developer faces leak repairs at four other sites across Auckland.

Council chief executive Rob Hutchison ordered a review of the building consent at Manuka Cove, where Taradale Developments has presold all 39 units off the plans for between $195,000 and $255,000. Earthworks have started on the project in Manuka Rd and construction is due to finish by next May.

The Glenfield Ratepayers and Residents Association had sought to cancel the building consent on the grounds of changed circumstances.

The residents cited Taradale's substantial leaking problems at other sites and new issues which could emerge from the findings of an independent inquiry, due out today.

Mr Hutchison told association chairman David Thornton that after taking legal advice the council found no reasonable grounds to cancel or change Taradale's consent for Manuka Cove.

But as a result of residents' concerns and public concern over media reports on the leaky building syndrome, he said the council would be "closely looking again" at the building consent.

"If any concerns or issues arise out of that review, we can ask the building certifiers to go back to their clients and issue a 'notice to rectify' as part of the consent," Mr Hutchison said.

Last night, the head of Taradale, Tim Manning, labelled the association "prats" who had unsuccessfully tried to stop the development for 15 months.

Mr Manning said the review was the right thing to do but he could guarantee there would be nothing there "because we are just so careful about everything we do now to get it right".

For example, he said, Taradale Developments had responded to concerns about kiln-dried timber contributing to rotting buildings by using only treated timber on all its buildings for the past 12 months. All the timber at Manuka Cove would be treated.

"[Manuka Cove] is a lovely development. It sold out in no time and we designed it so, fingers crossed, we shouldn't have any cladding, watertight problems," Mr Manning said.

In a glossy four-page brochure, Taradale uses happy home owners at other sites, real estate agents and mortgage brokers to testify to Manuka Cove's quality.

Mr Thornton said he was delighted the council would review the original consent. That would allow any recommended changes from today's Building Industry Authority review to be implemented at Manuka Cove.

* The four Taradale developments with leaky building problems are the $30 million Sacramento development in Botany Downs, the 105-unit Grange in Albany, the 61-unit Vista Rosa site in Mt Albert and the 44-apartment Norfolk Pines development in Albany.

* If you have information about leaking buildings,
email the Herald or fax (09) 373-6421.

Further reading
Feature: Leaky buildings

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