Fun Police Strike again: Council orders removal of 'non-compliant' Dunedin tree house

Forums › Off topic › Fun Police Strike again: Council orders removal of 'non-compliant' Dunedin tree house

Wiggum

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#238110 3-Jul-2018 16:02

What next?

Up to a dozen kids have used a popular neighbourhood tree house in their games of "war".

But now a larger battle is unfolding as the property owners take on the Dunedin City Council (DCC), which has ordered its removal.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/houses/105184433/council-orders-removal-of-noncompliant-dunedin-tree-house

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MikeB4
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#2048395 3-Jul-2018 16:08

Yeah I saw this briefly on TV last night and thought what the hell.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Linux

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#2048396 3-Jul-2018 16:09

This was on Fair Go last night and the council is mad they should just bugger off

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Taubin

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#2048415 3-Jul-2018 16:24

The barriers do not comply with building code F4

Remove the barriers, problem solved! (for that part at least)

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#2048420 3-Jul-2018 16:31

It is quite true that trees in general are non compliant.

Better cut down all the trees lest someone falls out of them.

UHD

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#2048426 3-Jul-2018 16:39

The tree house was 2.9 metres off the ground, which was under the three-metre threshold for private playground equipment. The addition of railings pushed it over that height. "So if we moved the safety railings it would be private playground equipment and the DCC would butt out." But to do so would endanger her children, and "that's just stupid", she said.

Oh, this is just magic.

MikeB4

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#2048427 3-Jul-2018 16:39

they should *cough* leave the trees alone or folks will go barking mad.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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sidefx

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#2048450 3-Jul-2018 17:17

MikeB4:

they should *cough* leave the trees alone or folks will go barking mad.

But they need to get to the root of the problem.

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MikeB4

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#2048454 3-Jul-2018 17:20

It just goes against the grain this stuff it's just knot good enough

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

mattwnz

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#2048460 3-Jul-2018 17:27

There are so many examples of this type of thing now going on in NZ with all the compliance and red tape that government has brought in. Food is another big one, where small producers have to have all these audits etc which cost big money, and many simply won't bother selling anymore.

In some ways I can see though how some tree houses could be dangerous, as how does council know it has been built to code?. Who would be liable if someone did get injured and it wasn't built to code, and a council was aware of it??? I don't blame the council at all, as they are simply covering their back in this current environment. But I can also see it from the point of view of the parents, that kids need to get out an do outdoor stuff. Trees themselves probably aren't safe at all either.

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#2048464 3-Jul-2018 17:32

UHD:

The tree house was 2.9 metres off the ground, which was under the three-metre threshold for private playground equipment. The addition of railings pushed it over that height. "So if we moved the safety railings it would be private playground equipment and the DCC would butt out." But to do so would endanger her children, and "that's just stupid", she said.

Oh, this is just magic.

As one of the comments says: "Make sure the handrails aren't attached to the actual structure, just the tree, and bam!, no longer over 3m!"

mattwnz

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#2048465 3-Jul-2018 17:32

UHD:

The tree house was 2.9 metres off the ground, which was under the three-metre threshold for private playground equipment. The addition of railings pushed it over that height. "So if we moved the safety railings it would be private playground equipment and the DCC would butt out." But to do so would endanger her children, and "that's just stupid", she said.

Oh, this is just magic.

Maybe they could build up the ground level under the tree? It is another example where some 'common sense' is needed. There does seem to be a lack of this in NZ.

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chevrolux

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#2048513 3-Jul-2018 19:27

The council are clearly muppets (yet to see a council that can make decent decisions), but who the hell are the neighbours that complained!?!

Makes think back to our tree house we had on the farm - it was just a touch more than 3m above the ground! Plus it had a trap door we could lift out and, god forbid, we didn't even put a warning barrier around it!!! TBH I am surprised I turned out to be a functioning member of society with all this mayhem in my childhood...

tdgeek

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#2048522 3-Jul-2018 19:34

I'd go to another branch and ask if they can leaf me alone

andrewNZ

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#2048528 3-Jul-2018 19:52

The people involved at the council did not want to be a part of any of this.

They were asked to look at it, so they did. A law exists and they are obligated to enforce it.

The person enforcing it thinks it's as crazy as everyone here, but you can NOT ask a council to ignore laws.

tdgeek

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#2048545 3-Jul-2018 20:26

andrewNZ: The people involved at the council did not want to be a part of any of this.

They were asked to look at it, so they did. A law exists and they are obligated to enforce it.

The person enforcing it thinks it's as crazy as everyone here, but you can NOT ask a council to ignore laws.

Thats true, but as the telecast said, the Council can have discretion. I think when a tree house then has the words building compliance in the same sentence, ist a bit silly. How about, make an adjustment here and there and all ok. Common sense

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