5 déc. 2001 - Auckland councils seek to tighten building regulations

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Auckland local bodies want to raise building standards for apartments and other high-density housing developments to avoid their becoming slums of the future.

A review of the Building Act has given Auckland councils the opportunity to right some of the wrongs that have occurred with the rapid growth of multi-unit housing.

Poor design and materials, shoddy workmanship, noise between units and the appropriateness of polystyrene cladding in multi-unit developments have been raised as issues needing attention.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Phil Warren said in a submission that the act, building code and regulations were developed before multi-unit housing and apartment conversions took off in Auckland.

The 10-year-old act is being reviewed by the Department of Internal Affairs. The building industry and other groups have been asked for comment before the Government introduces a bill to amend the act.

Mr Warren, chairman of the Auckland Regional Growth Forum, said it was important the multi-unit lifestyle remained attractive to a wide range of people but the quality needed to be raised so developments did not become "slums of the future."

Over the next 50 years, Auckland's population is expected to double to two million people, of whom 30 per cent are expected to live in apartments, terraced housing and town houses.

At present, 12 per cent of Aucklanders live in multi-unit housing.

The forum's submission said there was a need for more durable materials in multi-unit developments where high numbers of tenants caused greater "wear and tear" and it was difficult to get owners and tenants to pay for maintenance and upgrades.

Noise regulations in the building code for people living up against their neighbours did not provide adequate sound insulation for sleeping and, in homes built before 1992, internal noises like plumbing.

On the issue of expanded polystyrene, or chilly bin cladding, the submission said that while steps had been taken to tighten up standards, "concerns remain as to the potential fire hazard in dense residential development ..."

Auckland City is separately seeking changes to the act for higher standards in student accommodation, boarding houses and other developments with common toilet and bathroom facilities.

City development committee chairwoman Juliet Yates said she was dismayed at the lack of toilets and bathrooms in high-rise student accommodation.

Housing Lobby spokeswoman Sue Henry said it was never too late to tighten the rules.

Source: Councils seek tighter rules.
By Bernard Orsman.
407 words
5 December 2001
New Zealand Herald

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