As your newspaper has pointed out on more than one occasion, Tauranga's building industry is being hammered by tough times.
Leaving the problem of land affordability aside, there is no way out of the doldrums as long as the city council continues to charge such outrageous consent fees.
A TV3 news item 15 February stated Dunedin was the most expensive city in New Zealand in which to build a new home.
Here in Tauranga we know that is not the case, with building consent fees for an average three-bedroom home costing $19,000 on average. I believe this is unreasonable, unfair and unjustifiable.
In the current market, associated costs such as labour and the price of building supplies are very competitive. In many ways there has never been a better time to build a new home, yet local builders are seeing a sharp drop in business.
The city's out of control building consent fees are a direct contributor. The cost is too high. It is stifling growth and it is harming the local economy.
Mike Warren,
Director Jennian Homes, Tauranga.