Bargain for inspector at ‘shoddy’ subdivision
Homes so bad occupants have to move out. By Matt Shand.
A Tauranga building inspector signed off on ‘‘shoddy’’ work in a failed subdivision after developers sold him a house for $80,000 less than they charged his neighbours.
The Bella Vista development in Tauranga has been plagued by problems, which came to a head last month when residents from 21 homes were told to evacuate their properties due to safety concerns surrounding the building site.
Inspections by BCD Group engineer Colin Jacobson said it was among the ‘‘shoddiest workmanship’’ he had seen in 30 years.
Mark Bell – one of the inspectors who signed off on work on Bella Vista – purchased a 340sqm section across the road from affected houses but in the same subdivision.
Sales records show the section was purchased for $210,000 in August 2016 as part of a home and land package. The cost of the building is not recorded in public records but building consents of up to $280,000 were applied for.
Neighbouring properties were sold for at least $80,000 more but the developer, Danny Cancian, claims this was due to Bell’s property being in a worse condition. Bell told the Sunday Star-Times that while in hindsight it was not the best situation, it did not affect the work he and other inspectors performed.
As a former policeman, he said he purchased the property before he was given the position of lead inspector on the development but had performed several inspections of Bella Vista homes before buying.
‘‘At the time I signed with Bella Vista the price was pretty good,’’ he said. ‘‘But not that good that I would consider it a favour.’’
Bell followed process and completed a conflict of interest report in March 2017, and it was agreed that he would not inspect any part of the building work being undertaken on his own property.
A BDO Tauranga audit of the council’s Building Services Department recorded his proximity to Bella Vista as a potential cause of conflict. But it did recognise Bell acknowledged it.
Affected homeowners Jenny and Damian Coffey say they still have many questions about the inspectors’ work. The couple are renting while they wait for invasive testing of their property, which has a code of compliance.
‘‘We feel we’ve been let down by all the systems that are designed to protect us,’’ Jenny said. ‘‘We’re just stuck in limbo.’’
Meanwhile, a former member of the building services team, Bill Brouwer, filed a personal grievance against the council last year, saying he was asked to find ways to pass and fail certain buildings at the request of supervisors.
Brouwer’s grievance claimed he was constructively dismissed after refusing to cooperate with building services team members.
The Sunday Star-Times could not confirm that the grievance was upheld but has seen documents that a payment of $16,191.70 was made to Brouwer following mediation. This was paid as wages, not as a settlement.
Brouwer’s complaint inspectors were pressured inspections.
‘‘I remember at one point [name withheld] asked me if I was a team player or not,’’ the grievance read.
‘‘He went on to explain to me more fails equals more repeat inspections being required, which in turn creates more demand and the added bonus, it ensures more money is being generated by the re-inspection fees for council coffers.’’
Brouwer, now living in Canada, said he was unable to comment on the specifics of the personal grievance but said Tauranga inspectors could find ways to pass or fail whatever they wanted.
‘‘I think Bella Vista was a problem that they wanted to just go away,’’ he said. ‘‘The council needs to be held accountable for this.’’
Tauranga City Council has refused to comment on the allegations. says to fail