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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