‘Granny flat’ change comes with risks
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Proposed 'granny flat' legislation could help address housing demand in North Canterbury, but officials want safeguards against flooding and liquefaction risks.
The Hurunui District Council has questioned whether small homes are practical in the windy region, while the Waimakariri District Council says the policy appears to be consistent with its proposed District Plan.
The Government is seeking feedback on a proposal to force councils to allow buildings of up to 60m2 in certain areas, without requiring a consent.
The proposal was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Housing Minister Chris Bishop last week.
It will amend the Building Act and the resource consent system to make it easier to build granny flats or other small structures up to 60m2, provided they met the building code.
Hurunui District Council building and property manager Kerry Walsh said given the majority of the district is above the high wind zone, the maximum allowed in the proposal, ‘‘granny flats’’ may not even be permitted.
The Hurunui District includes the growing town of Amberley and tourist hotspot, Hanmer Springs.
If granny flats were allowed, he said it could "double the number of houses connected to the council’s systems".
The council needed to consider a number of questions when offering feedback including: will there be enough checks and balances, and will local infrastructure have sufficient capacity to support the proposal.
Waimakariri District Council planning, regulation and environment general manager Kelly LaValley said the proposal has the potential to address housing demand in the area, which includes Rangiora.
‘‘It aligns with our District Plan that allows granny flats to be established without a resource consent, provided conditions are met.
‘‘It is also good to see that the proposal considers impacts to stormwater, servicing, and infrastructure funding.’’
But there needed to be safeguards included to mitigate the risks from liquefaction and flooding.
There will need to be a clearly defined method of determining if the granny flats comply with the Building Code.
The Kaikōura District Council has also been contacted for comment.
Consultation is open until August 12, with final policy decisions to be made later in 2024. They are expected to be in place by mid-2025.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.
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