Champions of the Council
Staff of the councils, and there are many, are facing a very uncertain future with the advent of the "Super City".
Pah! You say, or, who really cares anyway! Or something along those lines. Well, I do!
I have been to all of the councils in Auckland and about 15 councils outside Auckland. All I have ever been met by was courtesy, and mainly very happy people who have been providing customer service for many years.
Service you ask? What kind of service? This is a valid question because it is probably only 1 out of every 100 people who have probably ever set foot into a council building whereas most people probably have no idea of their actual function.
Councils, over the last 10 years have really only come to the publics attention due to leaky building scandals, or whenever you get to vote in a Mayor. Maybe you went in to register your dog or pay the rates which you could have done online.
Today, I spoke to a lovely gentleman at Auckland City Council, and he explained how he is close to retirement and is very unsettled about his future when it becomes the Super City we are all being told of. There is no positive information for the existing staff, and it is only months away. I stepped into his shoes for this conversation. He also mentioned how disappointing it is that the public disagree with the rate-payers shelling out for a xmas do which would cost around $40 per head.
There are people who work for these local authorities (Councils), all over New Zealand, who are loyal, officious and responsible, and reliably produce work in the format decided for them by the management, day in day out for many many years.
Why then, should these same people cop a pile of "flak" from us, when, if you repeated those values just listed, to any other prospective employer, they would get that job hands down. Instead, these people are feeling like they are not valued, by the same people who ultimately pay their salaries - us, the rate payers - when the skills they can bring to the table are as good if not better than somebody you may currently employ.
Go to your local council TODAY, and wish them well for their uncertain future - they will appreciate it.
more
Staff of the councils, and there are many, are facing a very uncertain future with the advent of the "Super City".
Pah! You say, or, who really cares anyway! Or something along those lines. Well, I do!
I have been to all of the councils in Auckland and about 15 councils outside Auckland. All I have ever been met by was courtesy, and mainly very happy people who have been providing customer service for many years.
Service you ask? What kind of service? This is a valid question because it is probably only 1 out of every 100 people who have probably ever set foot into a council building whereas most people probably have no idea of their actual function.
Councils, over the last 10 years have really only come to the publics attention due to leaky building scandals, or whenever you get to vote in a Mayor. Maybe you went in to register your dog or pay the rates which you could have done online.
Today, I spoke to a lovely gentleman at Auckland City Council, and he explained how he is close to retirement and is very unsettled about his future when it becomes the Super City we are all being told of. There is no positive information for the existing staff, and it is only months away. I stepped into his shoes for this conversation. He also mentioned how disappointing it is that the public disagree with the rate-payers shelling out for a xmas do which would cost around $40 per head.
There are people who work for these local authorities (Councils), all over New Zealand, who are loyal, officious and responsible, and reliably produce work in the format decided for them by the management, day in day out for many many years.
Why then, should these same people cop a pile of "flak" from us, when, if you repeated those values just listed, to any other prospective employer, they would get that job hands down. Instead, these people are feeling like they are not valued, by the same people who ultimately pay their salaries - us, the rate payers - when the skills they can bring to the table are as good if not better than somebody you may currently employ.
Go to your local council TODAY, and wish them well for their uncertain future - they will appreciate it.
more
Amended Building Consent? Or a Corrupt Council?
Two years ago, I designed a renovation project for a client of mine in New Lynn, under Waitakere City Councils' jurisdiction. more
Two years ago, I designed a renovation project for a client of mine in New Lynn, under Waitakere City Councils' jurisdiction. more
Auckland City Councils' Building Leaks!
I was lodging a Building Consent for a client on Monday last week (31 May 2010) and knock me down with a feather! - The council have a Leaky Building! more
I was lodging a Building Consent for a client on Monday last week (31 May 2010) and knock me down with a feather! - The council have a Leaky Building! more
The Great Frame Robbery
I was at a lodge over the weekend watching "The Crusaders" dissecting yet another Super 12 franchise, "The Blues", with my mates at the "Busy Round Table".
Shortly after the game, and a couple of cold Speights, the discussion turned around to building activity across the whole country. One of our mates, a Carpenter, was feeling despondent about the quality of building today, and how houses seem to be getting slapped together with cheap materials, and how he can't compete anymore, because he is too expensive, and only has skilled staff who need to eat more than a bowl of rice a day. more
I was at a lodge over the weekend watching "The Crusaders" dissecting yet another Super 12 franchise, "The Blues", with my mates at the "Busy Round Table".
Shortly after the game, and a couple of cold Speights, the discussion turned around to building activity across the whole country. One of our mates, a Carpenter, was feeling despondent about the quality of building today, and how houses seem to be getting slapped together with cheap materials, and how he can't compete anymore, because he is too expensive, and only has skilled staff who need to eat more than a bowl of rice a day. more
Leaky Buildings - Home Owners
We don't doubt for a moment that there are large amount of people, who have ended up with a problem house through absolutely no fault of their own and this is really unfortunate. There is also another side to this story. Many people feel they can just organise a builder on a "Labour Only" basis and arrange all the sub trades and building material themselves. The builder is a sub contractor, like all the rest and the owner is now in fact the main contractor and/or the Project Manager. more
We don't doubt for a moment that there are large amount of people, who have ended up with a problem house through absolutely no fault of their own and this is really unfortunate. There is also another side to this story. Many people feel they can just organise a builder on a "Labour Only" basis and arrange all the sub trades and building material themselves. The builder is a sub contractor, like all the rest and the owner is now in fact the main contractor and/or the Project Manager. more
Leaky Buildings - Builders and Developers
While there is a large percentage of buildings being built correctly, by real tradespeople, there is a large amount that are not. We have dealt with so called builder clients where they don't understand the rudiments of timber construction. Obviously, they are not experienced and are not tradespeople. However, to the general public, building construction, from the footpath, looks easy. So they try their hand at it. more
While there is a large percentage of buildings being built correctly, by real tradespeople, there is a large amount that are not. We have dealt with so called builder clients where they don't understand the rudiments of timber construction. Obviously, they are not experienced and are not tradespeople. However, to the general public, building construction, from the footpath, looks easy. So they try their hand at it. more
Leaky Buildings - Building Product Manufacturers
While traditional building materials, like Brick Veneer and Bevel back weatherboards are still being widely used, there is an enormous amount of alternative material available, and a lot of it imported, and possibly intended for another country with different climatic conditions. For some unusual reason, monolithic claddings have become popular, in the form of sheet materials, usually wood fibre cement, polystyrene with a plastered top coat, and solid plaster over a wood fibre cement substrate. more
While traditional building materials, like Brick Veneer and Bevel back weatherboards are still being widely used, there is an enormous amount of alternative material available, and a lot of it imported, and possibly intended for another country with different climatic conditions. For some unusual reason, monolithic claddings have become popular, in the form of sheet materials, usually wood fibre cement, polystyrene with a plastered top coat, and solid plaster over a wood fibre cement substrate. more
Leaky Buildings - Councils and Certifiers
The inspection process can result in un-inspected work. From the time of the foundation inspection till the next one - the pre-line inspection, where if passed, the internal linings can be placed. The roof is on, windows in, wall claddings on, all floors built, an enormous amount of work - around 60-75% of the project in fact, and will be covered under only one inspection. Membraned decks are included here, as are plastered wall claddings and wood fibre cement monolithic sheet type wall cladding. more
The inspection process can result in un-inspected work. From the time of the foundation inspection till the next one - the pre-line inspection, where if passed, the internal linings can be placed. The roof is on, windows in, wall claddings on, all floors built, an enormous amount of work - around 60-75% of the project in fact, and will be covered under only one inspection. Membraned decks are included here, as are plastered wall claddings and wood fibre cement monolithic sheet type wall cladding. more
Leaky Buildings - Architects and Designers
Some Architects and designers do work for developers who in some cases, build between 100 - 200 houses per year. The developer believes that, with the volume of work they are providing, the rates should be cheap. more
Some Architects and designers do work for developers who in some cases, build between 100 - 200 houses per year. The developer believes that, with the volume of work they are providing, the rates should be cheap. more
Leaky Buildings - Government and Legislation
Around 1993 there was a change in our legislation regarding Boric Framing. Initially, one political party made a move towards banning these chemicals, as the effluents were apparently damaging our environment as a result of the way one of our major timber companies processed the wastes. more
Around 1993 there was a change in our legislation regarding Boric Framing. Initially, one political party made a move towards banning these chemicals, as the effluents were apparently damaging our environment as a result of the way one of our major timber companies processed the wastes. more
Leaky Buildings -Preamble
GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION - Re: LEAKY BUILDINGS - Oct 02'
I'm Scott Simôn - I am an Architectural and Structural Designer of 20 years experience, in Auckland. I have a practice where I design houses, manually on a drawing board, and I have 2 full time draughts people who use AutoCAD Software. more
GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION - Re: LEAKY BUILDINGS - Oct 02'
I'm Scott Simôn - I am an Architectural and Structural Designer of 20 years experience, in Auckland. I have a practice where I design houses, manually on a drawing board, and I have 2 full time draughts people who use AutoCAD Software. more