Some safety tips

 

If you are like me and Rebekka you might be spending some of your Summer time doing renovations and/or landscaping around the property. And so Auckland Council has some released some tips so you don’t end up in A&E on ACC over the Summer break….

From Auckland Council:

Tips and traps for holiday DIYers

 

Home DIY projects are as much part of the Kiwi summer as jandals or barbeques, but they need a bit of planning.

While some rules around home renovation have been relaxed in recent times, Aucklanders are being reminded to check before they get the tools out.

Councillor George Wood says DIYers should find out if the planned work needs either building or resource consent and check what you can do versus what needs a qualified tradesperson.

“With the better weather and longer evenings Aucklanders may be spurred on after watching ‘The Block’ on television. We just need to remind people to take the simple steps to make sure that the project is safe, they are going to be within the law and their work isn’t going to harm the environment,” Councillor Wood.

“It’s always best to ask first, and remember that building is covered by both the Building Act and Resource Management Act so both need checking.”

Ensuring DIY work is compliant will also help property owners ensure they don’t compromise any future property sales. To learn more about what does and doesn’t require consent, visitwww.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz  or contact 09 301 0101 to find out more.

“It’s also important to think about how we build, especially how we clean up afterwards, as building activity can have a real impact on our environment,” adds Councillor Wood.

“What goes down drains will end up in the sea via the stormwater system, so it is important to keep the drains for the rain,” he says.

Concrete waste, paint, and even soil particles can have a devastating impact if they get washed into the stormwater system, streams or the sea.

Paint brushes should be washed with running water onto open ground which will absorb the waste water and prevent the chemicals from reaching more vulnerable stream or marine environments.

To learn more about minimising potential pollution from home renovations and landscaping visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

—Ends—

 

Stay safe and some common sense please people 🙂