‘The right way to apply the rules?’
Dunedin city councillors have asked their staff to find out whether they are setting the right rules for properties with lead-contaminated land.
Speaking to the motion at yesterday’s meeting, Cr Andrew Whiley said it was not about the planning team and how they were applying what they were doing.
"What I’m concerned about is the advice they’re working off."
It comes after several developers complained to the council about having to pay six-figure sums to get lead-contaminated land cleaned up.
Cr Whiley said the council’s approach to the national environmental standards for lead contaminated soil was based in part off a report prepared by consultants Stantec.
"Was the Stantec advice the right way to apply the rules? Because we are right now interpreting regulations like no other council through the country."
Cr Carmen Houlahan agreed the council needed to find out, because the situation could be "creating uneconomical costs to develop".
Cr David Benson-Pope said he saw no reason not to believe staff were following the right processes, and he thought it was strange the councillors should be "swayed by a few developers complaining about the cost".
Cr Kevin Gilbert said it also affected anyone who wanted to "put a deck up in a yard".
"To me, this subject is a study in vagary, so this motion is trying to get some clarity through it."
Cr Whiley agreed and said all the council was trying to do was "find the missing link" of information.
"There’s no disputing lead in the soil is a health issue ... I just want to know we’ve got the settings right."
The council voted in favour of asking staff to seek formal guidance from the Ministry for the Environment by 9 to 4: Crs Christine Garey, Steve Walker, Marie Laufiso and Benson-Pope voted against.
Last week, a group of Dunedin businesses, led by Terramark planning manager Darryl Sycamore, wrote to Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop asking him to intervene.
