Toilets flow straight into waterway
A controversial developer has been hauled back before the courts over houses with toilets emptying into a stream. Augustine Lau faces a raft of charges relating to Auckland properties he has helped develop.
Neighbours have accused Lau of creating ‘‘slumsvilles’’ in desirable city suburbs by jamming relocatable houses onto sites. In one case, a judge found he had undertaken significant earthworks at two waterfront properties, subdivided another, converted a garage into a ‘house’ and relocated houses – all without seeking consent.
But in a new decision Judge Jeff Smith ordered interim emergency measures be put in place at a property on Ormiston Rd in Flat Bush after it was found human faeces were being flushed straight into a stream.
Lau was a joint respondent in the case alongside Jiawen Mao and Liansen Mao, who is the owner.
The Auckland Council applied for the interim enforcement orders at the property, which it alleged is made up of seven additional unconsented residential units along with an original home. These include two relocated classrooms, a former shed and converted garages.
It was discovered wastewater systems being used by three of the houses were emptying onto a slope above a stream. The wastewater system of the original house was being used by four houses instead of one and was also likely overloaded.
The houses were being rented out, but the tenants were unlikely to have realised what was happening, Judge Smith said.
‘‘In short, I am satisfied that there is a serious threat to the environment in this area, and there is the potential for significant adverse effect on human health both to tenants on the property and to persons downstream.’’
He ordered Lau to provide alternative toilet facilities for each tenant to use. A substantive hearing will be held in December.
A visit to the site revealed portaloos had been placed next to each ramshackle building.
Several tenants, who did not want to be named, said they had no idea their wastewater had been emptying into the creek. ’’It’s 2016 mate, would you want to use a long-drop? I told Lau this is not China my friend, you have to follow the rules.‘‘
But despite this, they said Lau had been a good landlord and living in the house was better than living in their car.
Lau accused the council of trying to ‘‘make me look bad’’ and said there had been a functioning wastewater system until inspectors damaged it. ‘‘The property had the wastewater system but the council has been corrupted by the neighbours ... when they came out to do the tests on it they actually damaged the high quality existing sewage system.’’