Everybody needs good neighbours – Manukau City Council launch interactive online tool
Manukau City Council has made it easier to be a ‘good neighbour’ with a new interactive, online tool available on its
website.
The tool will help homeowners to comply with environmental, resource management and building act requirements helping to
avoid any disputes with neighbours.
The ‘Good Neighbour Interactive’ online tool makes it much easier and quicker to find information about building and
planning, and general information on bylaws about your property.
The tool features a 3-D illustration of a residential property and the usual things you can expect in and around the
house such as overgrown trees, dogs, rubbish etc. When you move your mouse over any of these graphics, a “pop-up” will
appear giving you some basic information on that particular issue. Users will be able to get more information by
clicking on the “Get more information” links.
The model was developed in response to the many common complaints that can be dealt with more effectively and amicably
between neighbours, without involving enforcement officers at a cost to the rate payer.
Town planner and Team Leader of the Development Advice Team, Daniel Pouwels says “We often find ourselves talking with
customers who are really stressed about the little things, but don’t want to upset otherwise good relations between
neighbours”. The tool was developed as a way to easily demonstrate the issues a ‘good neighbour’ can avoid.
“Hopefully this will encourage neighbours to have a look at their own backyard and see what they can do to avoid cause
friction,“ says Mr Pouwels.
You can access the Good Neighbour Interactive on the council’s website www.manukau.govt.nz/goodneighbourinteractive.
Free face to face advice at the Manukau City Council Customer Centre continues to be available Monday to Friday – 8.30am
to 5 pm, except Wednesdays till 4pm.
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