Tue, 9 Nov 2004
Swimming Pool Fences: WCC Contempt Press Release from POAG (Pool Owners Action Group) Chairman: Gary Osborne
Waitakere City Council has shown contempt for its ratepayers, contempt for the Court and contempt for common sense.
The Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 has now been in force for 17 years yet between 1/1/02 and 10/9/04 Waitakere City
Council has issued 644 prosecution notices to its pool owners, some of whom have already had 2 certificates of
compliance.
When pool owners were told they couldn't have tables and chairs in a pool area and barbecues were not allowed, when they
were told to put fences between ranchsliders and pools seperated only by a few metres. When they were persistently
confronted with changes of mind by pool inspectors, the stage came when they cried enough's enough and banded together
demanding common sense.
On 1 October Judge Randerson made a decision which didn't go Council's way. Prior to this several Council officers had
attended a full day's hearing at ratepayers' expense on 2 August 2004.
At last a victory for COMMON SENSE thought I. But -- NO!! Since 1 October, a total of 4 prosecution notices have been
withdrawn yet 60 notices were sent out between 1 October and 5 November threatening NEW prosecutions.
Today I was staggered to learn Waitakere City Council is now seeking a second declaratory judgment. It must be great to
have an inexhaustible supply of ratepayer money to squander on litigation. The irony is that the pool owners get hit
twice --- defending themselves against a Council which won't accept a Judge's decision, then supplying that litigant-
thirsty Council with more ratepayer funds to quench its thirst in the form of rate increases at rates consistently above
inflation!
If you are a concerned pool owner anywhere in New Zealand, check out our website www.poag.org.nz. We would certainly
like to add to our ever-increasing membership.
ENDS