Swallows

Still waiting for consent - it always seems so close and then some other department comes up with a new question - and they have no idea how to all look at the file and ask questions at the same time - oh no - it goes from one person to the next, ask a question, write a letter, go on leave/sick, get answer, deal with answer, pass on to next imbecile who can't make a common sense decision to save himself yet happy to be entirely subjective when it comes to their consent decision making process - todays latest was that the plans now impede the original septic drip reserve area... so had to get plans to Reflection to redraw their septic drip reserve area. This is an area we will never use - we have a septic system big enough to handle 8 people living in the house... and yep - there is only two of us.

Anyway - on another note - the swallows like to float on the upwinds and sing songs while they are doing it...

The Consent saga

Ok - so this is how it goes so far (the shortened version)....

Sept 1 - sent in to council
Soon after that got a PIM - that stands for something irrelevant I am sure... but they send you a letter telling you that you now have one.

About a week later get a letter from City Certifiers Independant certifiers yay) saying there is information they still need - turns out most of it was actually on the plans - they were just using 'I can't see it' eyes.

Nothing for 4 weeks so we hoped it was all moving along nicely.

Then - Resource Consent people complain about the fact we have a sink in the office kitchen, no bathroom (just a loo) but a sink - no oven... but they think we could be trying to do the dirty and rent out the office as a seperate dwelling...and you can only have one sink (or dishwasher) per household unit.

But - we are not renting it out and 'another household unit' will not be living in there. Don't care - can't have the sink, and it's 4mx4m bigger than is allowed for a minor dwelling - BUT - it's not a minor dwelling - it's an office.!!! Oh well I shall check with my Team Leader (good friggin idea).

10 days later - Harmony check with her - oh I discussed it with my Team Leader and didn't get an answer either way (so what has she been doing for 10 days apart from sitting on the file??!!??)...

So she talks to Team Leader who decides to let it through - with strict conditions - of which we have not seen yet, and no sink. But he also comments that he is 'mystified' as to why we need such a large lunch room area. NONE OF YOUR FRIGGIN BLOODY BUSINESS! Thinking of taking him to Human Rights Assn to complain - saying I am 500kgs and need one that big...

Bloody hell.

So that was three weeks ago and I thought we were close.....

We had this report attached to our title by Consultants Cato Bolam - they said we needed to have a bund for storm water. Harmony suggested we get them out again to re do the report to allow for the bigger than allowed roof area (by 7mx7m or so I think) and Cato said sure thing - we'll do that - for a fee - and by the way you don't need a bund anymore - councils prefer detention tanks now. Ok.

Two weeks ago...well the file goes to the Engineer who reckons he can't see where the bund is...doesn't have the new report and wants to know where the bund is. So I get a copy and email it through - guess what - he's gone for the week - back next week. So then we are told that the 'report' has to be attached to the title, and the old one removed, so back to Resource Consent Dept (and my favourite Team Leader)...

So - engineer has everything he needs we think (on Friday).... I call up - he's away today -and it's a long weekend - back on Tuesday.
Tuesday - Resource Consent Dept have the friggin file again - about the earthworks (which is actually all we needed Resource Consent for)... we are cutting and filling - not removing any dirt.

She wants to know - the Geotech report states we need a retaining wall - do we? She asks.
Harmony quote the report back to her "needing a retaining wall or battering 2:1" which we have on the plans - so no - we don't.

Ok - she says - I shall send it to the engineer to see if he says that's ok (even though they ask for an engineers report at the time of application).

Wednesday- back from engineer - he said it's ok - now I'll give it to my Team Leader to consider - oh my favourite guy. At this point I imagine he has short mans disease most definitely! And pimples. And maybe BO too. Oily hair - yep. Shorts and long socks and sandals - yeeess!!

Today - our Septic Tank guy calls saying the council have called him and asked him to re-do the septic tank drip area because our new plans are impinging on the reserve area - you know - that's the area of septic drips we will need when we move the extra household unit and 14 asian students in to live.

arrrrgggghhhhhh - will we ever be out of this barn and in our house!

So glad Harmony are dealing with them and not me - I would have breathed fire on someone by now.

Hay making into the night

The neighbouring farm baled what looked like long green grass most of the twighlight and early evening tonight.

It's quite good - the horses are getting used to tractors, balers, etc.

They don't really like things that spray or drop stuff like fertiliser.

Fair enough!

Topped and sprayed

Took the tape down today in the house paddock in readiness for the diggers! Looks kinda big now. We are expecting the Consent any day now from our very efficient Rodney Council. LOL


Got Tim to top the middle paddock today - looks really good now. The boys are now in the track which also has heaps of grass.

The two wooden spools are for my play paddock for Parelli.

These areas are where I have sprayed the track (buttercup and dock) and I put some grass seed down and then some hay so the birds didn't get all the seed.


This is the result of the Interceptor Organic spray - after only two days.

This was dock.... (in another life)

You can see where I have sprayed - that was the really wet area so was the worst part. The rest of the track is pretty good. So - now the middle. I have ordered some more spray but it won't be here till end of next week.

Spraying

I have been busy spraying the dock and buttercup with organic weed killer. It's made of pine oil. Smells a bit like pine'o'clean! I put some grass seed down on the dead bits yesterday as well but not sure if that will germinate before they grown back! I also ran out of spray too.

You can see the yellow bits are the dead bits - and how much I have yet to spray!


I am starting with the track - as the middle is so much more daunting!

Bought a German made sprayer today because the big 15L one was too heavy for me.

Update

This piccy was taken in the weekend - Maraschino sharing Krispie biscuits with George. It was a lovely sunny, still day.

Heard yesterday that the council have agreed we don't need Resource Consent for the office wing although we have to take the sink out in the kitchenette in the office. I am loathed to argue about it at this stage, as I don't think it's correct that we can't have a sink because we don't have a shower or bath. But I have not seen the bylaws... so not sure of the wording exactly - and we have had enough delays.

They took 25 days to even question it, and now it's taken over two weeks to get an affirmative answer about it. They say they are adding some 'strict' conditions to the consent, which we must adhere to - so waiting with baited breath for that!! I am hoping they can get organised enough to get it all done and the consent issued by the end of this week. We are up to 32 working days now (they have a statutory obligation to issue consents in 20 working days BUT there is no penalty if they don't!!)

Exposed

We had a bit of a storm due, more wind than anything so we thought we better anchor everything down.




Turned out it wasn't too bad. We actually have not had alot of rain in the last 6-7 weeks. I better water the mandarins!

House paddock - last time maybe

Everytime I put the boys in the house paddock I think it will be for the last time, because next time there will be diggers there!

Thought that last month but nothing yet! Council being their usual bureaucratic selves. But we are slowly making progress I think.

The grass has grown heaps up here, and the boys were so full after a day in here they hardly touched their hay.

Photo taken out the dirty window so not very clear sorry (I was inside).