“I actually thought, this might be it for me”.
That’s what was going through Lisa Young’s mind as she was chased up her West Auckland driveway by a digger.
She says, since October, she’s watched and filmed from her fence in the suburb of Swanson as trees have been cleared and trucks arrived at her neighbour’s house to dump all sorts of items — timber, corrugated iron, plastic.
Auckland Council officials are looking into what’s been going on at the property and halt or “abatement” orders have been issued.
In a statement, Auckland Council’s compliance investigations team leader David Pawson told 1News: “No resource consents have been issued for the work, and abatement notices have been issued to all parties responsible requiring the work to cease and for remedial actions to be taken.”
“The council is continuing to investigate all enforcement options available under the RMA, which includes the ability to seek enforcement orders from the Environment Court.”
Meanwhile, Young said her family feared retaliation for trying to document the unconsented works.
“I fear for my life”, she told 1News, recalling the digger incident, which was caught on camera.
Police said a person had been charged with reckless driving and was granted diversion.
On top of that, Young said her fence has been cut and concrete has been thrown through a window.
Police confirmed they had received a report of wilful damage in relation to that incident, but said “the matter is currently inactivated”.
“An image was provided to police of a person nominated as being involved,” a police spokesperson said. “Enquires have been made into the photo but, as yet, this individual has not been identified.”
1News contacted the owner of the property where earthworks were taking place, Peter Tugaga, to ask about the incidents.
He said the neighbours were “busybodies” with “nothing better to do”.
Tugaga told 1News he was carrying out landscaping work at the property and it was above board.
He said the Auckland Council investigations were “a load of nonsense”.
However, others in the neighbourhood were also concerned.
Mike Jenkin has lived in the Waitākere foothills for more than 40 years and said he’s seen unrelated instances of illegal earthworks on other occasions.
“It just makes me sick to be honest,” he told 1News.
“All the stuff that we see here ends up in the suburbs below, blocking the streams, flooding people’s homes and ultimately into the Waitematā Harbour.”
