Row erupts over Mount backpackers

Dumped rubbish and human faeces left on a property has left residents of a Mount Maunganui street feeling intimidated after an alleged unpermitted backpackers set up in their neighbourhood.

Residents on May Street, as well as a Mount Maunganui backpacker owner, are up in arms after a property in the neighbourhood they believe was set up as a backpackers.


The disputed Mount Maunganui property. Photos: SunLive.

However, the owner of the property in dispute, Richard Allo, says it isn't a backpackers but is simply his home and those who are staying there are his 'flatmates”.

'This is my home,” explains Richard. 'I've amalgamated three flats and the council is fully aware of the situation. We're not doing anything illegal and it's all within the council's guidelines. So you're allowed to span boarders when you buy property.

'If I buy next door, I can span that and put a big house on the whole thing. So I'm not doing anything different. There is not any more people here than I'm allowed to have.”

When asked how many people were staying at the property, Richard says he didn't wish to divulge that information.

When SunLive visited the property, there were about six people standing on a balcony talking. A tarpaulin draped down from the balcony, and tables, chairs and a brazier were set up in the driveway. However, none of the residents wanted to comment.

But several neighbours – none of whom wanted to be named – say there were up to 27 people staying there last summer.

One resident says they were regularly having problems with loud music and partying going on long into the night.

'Every Friday they light a fire in the driveway and have their music up really loud,” they say. 'In the last month, we have had the fire brigade here twice and the police as well.”

Another resident, who has lived in May Street for around 14 years, says she has approached Richard about what was happening, but has been met by nothing but resistance.

'He is very intimidating,” they claim. 'He is a law unto himself. I've rung up the council, but we've had eggs thrown at our doors and rubbish dumped on our property. At the end of our place, we've got a gate into a service lane and three times we've had to go and clean up human faeces.

'It's happened every time we've made a complaint to the council.”

Richard categorically denies he has been intimidating and knows nothing about the incident when asked.

'I'm flabbergasted,” he says. 'That's disgusting. It's definitely not the kind of behaviour I'd endorse and I'd be ashamed of anyone who would do that. We're just doing our own thing. I don't expect we are going to have everyone [in the neighbourhood] happy.”


Maunganui Backpackers owner Stewart Fleming.

Maunganui Backpackers owner Stewart Fleming has been operating his business on Maunganui Road for three-and-a-half years, and has spent in the region of $250,000 on refurbishing and making sure his business is compliant with Tauranga City Council's regulations.

He has been left frustrated by the council's inability to stop unpermitted backpackers setting up in the city.

'He has these big signs up [on his property] saying rooms for rent,” claims Stewart. 'Basically what he is doing is running it like a backpackers. I'm losing backpackers regularly to him.

'He doesn't have any resource consents and the council aren't doing anything about it.”

In an email to the council, Stewart claimed the property had no resource consent, fire alarms, building warrant of fitness, fire exit signs, fire doors and permits for signage at the front and rear of the property.

Stewart also claimed there was also a lot of non-permitted building work being done on the property.

Tauranga City Council Environmental Monitoring manager Andrew McMath says the property is currently the focus of a council investigation, which began in April this year.

'Council staff are working closely with the property owner of May Street, to provide him with advice to ensure that the property is compliant with the Tauranga City Plan, Building Act and Building Code,” explains Andrew.

He says the property is in a high-density residential zone under the Tauranga City Plan.

'The property owner says he is operating within the permitted activity rules as a residential activity,” adds Andrew. 'Council will continue to work with the property owner to ensure compliance.

'We do not want to prejudice any outcomes as this is still under investigation. We have to be fair and reasonable to all involved parties. Council is taking seriously the concerns raised by Stewart Fleming in regards to May Street.”

Andrew says in the past six months, council has investigated around 40 properties brought to their attention as possibly operating as non-consented visitor accommodation in residential zones.

'One of these properties was found to be non-compliant and has since altered its activity to meet the requirements of the City Plan,” says Andrew. 'May Street continues to be a focus for further council investigation.”

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9 comments

council

Posted on 18-09-2015 12:02 | By pakeha2

the council is a toothless tiger!


Tax man

Posted on 18-09-2015 13:30 | By Feruno

Report this illegal operator to the tax man . If the legal backpackers have to comply with all the rules, including paying tax on income, then surely everyone has to . I would never imply that our noisy, fire making, defecating friend would not pay tax mind .


council2

Posted on 18-09-2015 14:27 | By space cadet

But not when it comes to collecting money it seems!


That place is a dump

Posted on 18-09-2015 14:43 | By xfiles

I went to look at that place as I was really wanted to find a flat. Richard was rude! The rules they had.. Can smoke pot, drink alcohol, parties to early hours in the morning on weekends! It is really expensive too! Should be illegal.


fair and reasonable

Posted on 18-09-2015 17:23 | By wazzock

council has no obligation to be fair and reasonable. TCC just need to ensure that the use of this property meets ALL legal requirements. If this is a boarding house where it was previously used as flats then there is a 'change of use' under the NZ Building Act - this requires signifcant upgrading of the building. No excuses. Just do the job you are paid to do.


TCC Rule Check

Posted on 18-09-2015 17:29 | By wazzock

Ok, lets give this geezer the benefit of the doubt and say that all these people staying are his flatmates. TCC plan states 'shared accomodation' is OK for maximum of 8 permanent residents per site. he has combined his site into 1 so only 8 people. Stop mucking about and just deal to this clown.


Pathetic

Posted on 19-09-2015 06:53 | By peecee09

Council has taken over 5 months to investigate this. How pathetic. I suppose this ridiculous amount of time to investigate this is due to the delay in Council receiving an opinion form United Nations, another useless and toothless outfit.


Sounds like a beat up

Posted on 19-09-2015 09:56 | By trevorm

This sounds like the creative use of existing Council rules which the Council cannot fight, hence the "delay" in taking any action - because it cannot. Nebulous claims from neighbours sound like sour grapes, and obviously the eggs etc aren't the actions of the owner. The Backpacker operator is obviously miffed because he didn't think of it first. I'd like to hear some comments from the flatmates living there, to balance those who did not like having rules imposed on them.


Feruno got it right.

Posted on 19-09-2015 10:35 | By morepork

This person is making large amounts of money without regard for his neighbours or the community at large. Follow the money and get IRD onto it.It's tough on a legitimate business to have to "compete" with this and it isn't fair on the neighbours either. There's always the greedy who destroy our communities; we need stronger action and protection.


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