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An old classroom awaiting remodel next to Terry Grooby’s 50-year-old Motueka home is casting a shadow over its final months.
Grooby, 84, diagnosed with cancer and expected to have less than two years to live, wants to enjoy that limited time at his home on Courtney St, but says the “monstrosity of a building” on the other side of the street. nearby is blocking most of your sun. It is also causing you to lose sleep.
“A month ago, I had a heart attack and that hasn’t helped me at all either, but I lose a lot of sleep at night; I can’t stop thinking about that mess out there … it’s just not fair. “
Grooby said he woke up one late winter morning to see the old classroom for the first time dominating the view from his kitchen window.
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Martin De Ruyter / Things
Despite having terminal cancer and a recent heart attack, Terry Grooby is active at his home in Motueka. He has also been mowing the grass at East Tākaka Cemetery every two weeks for about 16 years.
“I have never been notified,” he said. “Do I have any legal rights? So, is not a house, it has never been a home. Why has it been brought into a residential situation? “
The developers have consent to subdivide the section next to Grooby and establish two relocatable homes. The consents were given by the Tasmania District Council without notice, which meant that neither Grooby nor anyone else had to be consulted.
“The adverse environmental effects of the activity are considered minor,” say consent decisions.
Plans for a relocated home were attached for the other lot, but there were none for the previous room.
“A specific relocatable dwelling has not yet been obtained … and, therefore, consent for generic dwelling is sought,” the decision reads.
Martin De Ruyter / Things
The old classroom is one of two relocatable buildings in a subdivided section along Courtney St in Motueka.
At 395 square meters, the size of the lot meant a height restriction of 5 m for any home. However, consent was also given for that generic home to be up to 5.6 m high.
“I do not believe that the additional height of the dwelling … will result in adverse effects or compromise the comfort and character of the receiving environment,” the consent decision reads.
Grooby disagrees, saying he believes the amenities have already been affected “to a great extent,” noting that the roof of the old classroom had not yet been raised to the intended height.
“It used to have full sun when it came out,” he said. “Now, I do not get anything first thing in the morning; it’s not the same anymore “.
Martin De Ruyter / Things
Terry Grooby says he misses the camellias and rhododendrons that he used to see and care for along his boundary. Now, it’s an old classroom that you see over the fence.
The loss of sun meant that Grooby had to use his heat pump three times longer than normal. He also saddened by the loss of plants that had cared.
“What I really am missing along the boundary fence [are] the camellias and rhododendrons that I took care of for several years … and now there is nothing ”.
A diagram attached to the consent decision says that existing vegetation along the boundary should remain, when practical.
“They simply tore them all,” said Grooby. “My problem is: if there was … a nice little place there, I wouldn’t object, but it’s a classroom.”
Developer Toby Brown said he intended to convert the old classroom into a three-bedroom home that would provide a “people-friendly home.”
It would have been easier to build new houses, but he believed in recycling and reusing materials. He also believed in intensifying rather than urban sprawl.
Brown said he intended to start the old classroom as soon as the other house was finished, which he hoped would be early next year.
Grooby and his late wife raised their family in the Courtney St home, a home Grooby said he now believed had been undervalued.
“I wish the powers that be making all these decisions come and take a look at the situation,” he said.
Martin De Ruyter / Things
The old classroom came from the Book Valley in Nelson.
Motueka Ward Councilor Trindi Walker visited Grooby and shared her concerns, promising to defend him on his behalf.
“No matter what landscaping you do, it’s still going to … block out your sun,” he said. “As advice, we must be aware of the implications for other people.”
Grooby’s son Dean said he had built several houses in Christchurch and was familiar with the planning documents and council rules.
“This is the worst document in terms of planning that I have seen,” he said. “There is so much non-compliance and saying that it has no environmental effects. Hopefully common sense will prevail … move this monstrosity around and let a dying man live his days in peace. ”
Walker said Monday afternoon that he had been told that council staff would investigate the matter.
