Dear Ruapehu District Council,

History:
05/11/2020 - I put through a subdivision consent to build 3 houses on the then 2500sqm section at 30c snowmass drive which was approved 04/12/2020.

11/03/2021 - I put through a request to prune or remove the trees on 6 Teitei drive, Ohakune that border the new address 30e Snowmass Drive as the trees overhung the fence line and would pose a threat to the buildings being erected. I offered to have these removed at no expense to council as the Lions club were going to do it free and give the firewood to those in need. The documentation provided showed where the house was being built and that the trees would pose a risk.

06/05/2021 - Council board declined the offer and requested a tree report be done to ensure the health of the trees.

12/10/2021 - I escalated the email through to senior management as I had sent 9 emails in the 8 months and only received 4 responses, with no response about the report as the house had started being built.

16/03/2022 - I met with council staff and the arborist on site, where it was agreed the most critical limbs would be removed as there was a high risk of some of the large limbs falling onto the house. It was decided that a report will be sent due to the remaining trees possibly being compromised by other trees that may still need to be removed. It was also agreed that the arborists would return to remove any debris and limbs that had been cut down as they had limited time to complete all jobs in the area during that visit.

The debris left behind is large and poses a fire risk. I highlighted to council that teens in the past have used the space to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes and that on a dry day, all the dry wood and leaves could cause damage (not to mention the 2 x 45kg gas bottles that could explode if this did happen).

07/04/2022 - Council board meeting 16 minutes 40 seconds into the Ruapehu call (see https://www.facebook.com/ruapehudc/video...) it was discussed how councillors were disappointed that trees had been pruned without permission from the board, and stated it was unfair how someone could subdivide and then build near the existing trees and then expect council to pay for the arborist. Council staff relayed that the trees were critical in being pruned due to damage they were causing to healthy trees and where large limbs had the risk on falling on our house. Not to mention I had offered to have them rectified without costs to council over a year before.

It was agreed that councillors would meet on site and also that a tree report would be obtained as the rest of the trees may be impeding the health of the trees.

16/06/2022 - Council staff confirmed arborists would be back to remove limbs and debris.

17/06/2022 - I was advised an onsite meeting had proceeded and "there is planned development of that site at which stage the stand of trees will be dealt with". I still had not received any report of the state of the trees.

05/10/2022 - I followed up with council again before we enter the hot summer period which will dry up the limbs and debris and reminded them of the fire risk, still no word about the arborist report.

Questions:
1./ I'd like to know if councillors had an onsite meeting to discuss the health of the trees and what was discussed and agreed.
2./ Has any tree report been received between 11/03/2021 and now, and if so, please provide these.
3./ What is the "planned development of that site" (6 Teitei drive)?
4./ When is the planned development to take place?

Yours faithfully,
Barry Murphy

Dear Carole Colquhoun,

Thanks for your response, however none of my questions are satisfied.
On multiple occasions I was advised a tree report would be available and I have yet to see this.

Back on 17 June 2022 I advised the limbs were still present on the site and posed a fire risk, I also asked for a copy of the supposed tree report that had been commissioned and requested for over a year.

I'm happy to hear that there is an action plan for Monday 12th December to remove the limbs and reduce the risk of a fire, however this has been said for over 6 months so I will believe it when I see it.

My main concern still remains the tree report. I would like a copy of this for the event a tree falls on our house. I want to know that they are safe and healthy and that no further remedial work is urgent & that council isn't putting our property at risk by delaying this action item for a proposed development plan that no one knows about and there is no timeline for.

As ive seen, this matter has been going on nearly 2 years and I'd like for it to come to an end.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Carole Colquhoun,

Just to be clear, I was advised third party arborist tree report would be provided, this is also what I am requesting under the official information request and which I have not yet been provided.

I was told the report would indicate the health of the trees and provide information on the most urgent limbs that have been cut, but also information on the parts of the trees and surrounding trees that needed maintenance.

It took over a year for an arborist to come on site and cut limbs that were of critical urgency and advised more work would need to be done and the tree report would be provided. The limbs were cut against the boards approval, however were actioned due to safety and urgency.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Ruapehu District Council,

Now that details have been released about the joint venture between RDC & Kāinga Ora as seen on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ruapehudc/posts...) and via notification to owners via mail.

I'd like to request the information regarding council decisions relating to this project be made available via offical information request. Those that were previously with held during negotiations, I ask be made publicly available.

My Questions are as follows:
1./ Please advise which councillors voted in favour of this venture and which were apposed or abstained.
2./ Please advise how long this project has been considered as I've heard its been suggested for many years and councillors pushed back on the proposal.
3./ What funding is RDC receiving from government for the project?
4./ How many homes will be rent to own type scenario vs public / state housing?
5./ When discussed and considered, what were the issues considered with the proposal.
6./ What considerations were given to neighbouring properties
7./ There have been 5 recent subdivisions created and more in the pipeline, why didnt council and Kāinga Ora purchase lots in different areas, rather than grouping all public housing together which could cause issue.
8./ Has council considered the impact to Carrot Park, with these public houses being right on the most visited location and tourism attraction to Ohakune?
9./ What protections will be put in place to ensure law and order in such a intensified public housing space.
10./ Any documentation, planning or discussion notes with regards to this project,

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Info,

As per your acknowledgement, "We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 16 August 2023, being 20 working days after the day your request was received". I am yet to receive a response.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Info,

Just confirming it has been 22 business days and I have yet to receive the information or any request for extension of the OIA request, Nor have any of my questions been answer, in part or full.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Maggie Flonk,

This request is 22 business days and is overdue, I've failed to receive any responses

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Info,

My last response was direct to Maggie as I thought that perhaps Info was not forwarding them through to the right team and ignoring my request.

I still await the information that is now past its due date.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Maggie Flonk,

I refer to your letter 23rf august stating I would hear back by 12th September. This date has come and gone for over a week. Please advise when I will receive a response to this well overdue request

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Maggie Flonk,

This oia is now being forwarded to the ombudsman due to lack of response after your acknowledgment to provide the info

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Info,

Q1: relates to Answer 1 relates to delegations given to the Council’s Chief Executive, to quote "negotiations with Kāinga Ora and to enter into an agreement with Crown Infrastructure Partners". I'd like a copy of these delegations and the wording, plus any resolutions relating to it to ensure the CE had the correct delegations to sign agreements related to Teitei Dr.

Q2: relates to Answer 2 If we look at the history of Council agendas, we can clearly see that council consulted and informed the community of Moore St & Taumarunui regarding CIP funding etc.

On page 28 of the 20200429 agenda, all projects with funding requests were listed, including Taumarunui on page 40 which was very detailed.

Why is it that council advised on all CIP funded requests historically and all social housing or affordable living projects except Teitei. Information was then provided ongoing into future agendas, including milestone updates; but not once provided any detail on Teitei. At 31 August 2023 public meeting, council is quoted as stating they agreed consultation on the specific location was not held.

Q2.1: Please confirm and provide copies of consultation and any documents that were made available to the public prior to 20th June 2023 with relation to Teitei Dr specifically.
Q2.2: Advise why Teitei Dr never appeared in any agendas as would be expected to match other projects started around the same time.

Q3: relates to answer 4 doesn't fully utilise the 46 lots, please advise what is being done with the 45th and 46th residential lot as you have not stated, I consider this question not fully answered.

Q4: relates to answer 6 its clear the neighbours were not notified until June 15-20th (postal letter and RDC Facebook page), when council had already entered into contract on 4th April 2023 (72+ days after signing) to proceed with the build, please provide supporting documentation

Q5: Did council at any point think that the project at Teitei Drive was contentious, please provide any reports or documents relating.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Info,

Thanks, however please respond to question 3, your answer 4, immediately as you have not provided a full answer to this question.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy

Dear Info,

This OIA was due for response 3 November however nothing has been received.
Please provide an update.

Yours sincerely,

Barry Murphy