In these newsletters, we cover the latest building industry news, trends, and tips. In this particular issue, we talk about healthy homes legislation, a new project mapping tool, and some of our frequently asked questions.

Healthy Homes legislation

The Healthy Homes standards became law on 1 July 2019.

These introduce specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage, and draught stopping in rental properties.

The minimum R-values for properties in the South Island are:

Ceilings = R 3.3
Underfloor = R 1.3

To find out more or view compliance timeframes, head to:
www.tenancy.govt.nz/healthy-homes

How's life? Second Quality of Life Survey coming soon

In October, you may receive an email or letter about taking part in our second Quality of Life online survey.

Let us know how you feel about life in our district and what the big issues are (and be in to win a Prezzy card while you're at it!).

New criteria for Producer Statement Design Review (PS2) forms

We have recently adopted some criteria for instances when the authority completing your PS2 forms will not have the right level of expertise to ensure compliance with the Building Code.

These will apply to all building consent applications moving forward and will cover the following thresholds (in addition to the well-established PS2 requirement for Fire Engineering):

Building Code clause B1:

Retaining structures over 5m in height
New buildings and significant alterations to buildings with an importance level 3, 4 and 5
New buildings greater than 5 levels above ground
Structures containing structural member spans greater than 20 m
Untested alternative solutions for structural designs
Other buildings the BCA deems of a complex nature

Building Code clauses C1-6:

Alternative solutions to buildings listed in section 75 (1) Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act;

Building Code Clause E2:

Building Façade designs to E2/VM1 or E2/VM2, greater than 10m in height, contain more than 10 household or accommodation units

Countdown to the third Stage of the District Plan review

This Stage includes: Townships (Settlement Zones), Design Guidelines for MBU and Residential Zones, Wāhi Tūpuna (sites of significance to iwi), General Industrial Zones, and Three Parks.

To find out more about what's covered and to make a submission, head to: www.qldc.govt.nz/proposed-district-plan-stage-3.

Please note: the page will be live from notification date - 19 September 2019.

New project mapping tool coming soon

We’re currently working on a tool that will enable a much more holistic, coordinated approach to managing the vast number of private and public infrastructure projects underway across the district.

The GIS based tool will prove helpful to both Council and private developers as an unprecedented number of projects are planned, designed and delivered to cater for our fast growing corner of the world.

The idea is that we capture project data and display it visually using a GIS Map, in turn helping the Council and private developers identify opportunities for collaboration that could minimise disruption to our residents and visitors

This will allow better visibility of what’s happening and where to provide more strategic oversight of how adjacent projects might affect each other, the wider environment and timeframes. It will also provide for a more coordinated approach to project planning, traffic management, RMA planning and approvals.

Watch this space - the new tool will be launched later in the year.

If you’re keen to discuss the new tool, please get in touch with Paul Haggarth on 03 441 0499 or email paul.haggarth@qldc.govt.nz.

Building trends from Chris English

The building consent and inspections trends have largely been the same since the last Brace Yourself newsletter so this update will be relatively short and sweet.

The applications for commercial consents continue to be very strong while residential consents are at similar or slightly lower levels compared to this time in 2018.

However, I am sure that builders will have noticed that over the last month, the time between inspection booking and getting the inspection has unfortunately started to stretch out. Particularly in two of our five runs - Jacks Point/Hanley Farm and Arthurs Point/Millbrook/Arrowtown. This is due to staff shortages and absences, but we are looking at options to overcome this and get the inspections timeframes back to satisfactory timeframes.

We appreciate your patience in the meantime.

Answers to some of our frequently asked questions

Q. Do I need a building consent?
A. There's a lot of building and maintenance work that can be carried out without building consent. Ultimately owners must make the final call on whether a building consent is needed as they best understand the scope of their work. You may want to have this recorded on your property file, so if you do, complete the form below and send to us.

Exemption application form
MBIE guidance and examples of exempt work (particularly useful are the sections relating to bathroon alterations: 1, 12, 32-35)

Q. Why has my inspection failed? It’s definitely built to the building code.
A. This is likely due to the fact that building work needs to comply with the Building Code and also the issued Building Consent Plans and Specifications.

Q. With the changes in the requirements for Swimming Pool Fencing, does my pool need to be fenced
A. Yes, if your swimming pool is over 5m2 and not defined as a 'small heated pool'. You also need to notify QLDC so we can inspect your pool barrier and ensure it meets requirements. If your pool is an above ground small (-5sqm) heated pool (Spa pool), you can use a lockable lid as a “barrier” to prevent entry when not in use.

Q. What's required for a wood burner building consent application?
A. Everything you need to know is listed here: www.qldc.govt.nz/planning/building-consents/solid-or-liquid-fuel-burners.

Our Building Services team

Our Building Services team is overseen by Chris English, QLDC's Building Services Manager. Together with Chris, we provide important services to our district's community.

We work across our Wānaka and Queenstown offices and this format enables us to have coverage all the way from Kingston to Makarora for building queries. These queries range from building consents, to inspections and compliance checks and can come from a variety of people - builders, architects, developers, and members of the public who may not have built before.

To view previous issues, please visit: www.qldc.govt.nz/planning/building-consents/brace-yourself
If there is a topic that you would like to see covered, please let us know by emailing: chris.english@qldc.govt.nz