Media Release
12 October 2006

$30,O00 Fines for Culverden Hospital and Retirement Village

Manukau City Council is welcoming the successful prosecution and fines of $30,000 for un-consented building work at the Culverden retirement complex in Mangere East.

The Culverden Group Limited, Culverden Retirement Village Limited and Director, Ian Anderson, pleaded guilty at Manukau District Court on four offences under the Building Act. The building work that had been undertaken without building consents included relocation of internal walls, plumbing and drainage works and removal of parts of the installed sprinkler system.

Fines of $5000 each were imposed on Mr Anderson and Culverden Group Limited for offences relating to the hospital. In relation to the retirement village fines of $10,000 each were imposed on Mr Anderson and Culverden Retirement Village Limited.

Manukau City Council Development Compliance and Enforcement Manager Kevin Jackson says the high level of fines imposed clearly demonstrates that the court takes the issue of un-consented building work very seriously.

“In this case the council had extreme concerns about the extent of un-consented work and safety of residents - particularly relating to the removal of parts of the sprinkler system.

“It is vital in a retirement complex that all building work is consented and that there is a high level of fire safety. This wasn’t the case at Culverden and the council took a tough approach to make sure it happened,” Mr Jackson says.

Council officers are working to bring the entire complex into compliance.

“The safety issues are being addressed appropriately. The public can be assured that the council won’t allow people’s lives to be put at risk unnecessarily,” Mr Jackson says.

ENDS

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