Complaints could close business

A home-based, family business in Stillwater may be forced to close after 20 years of operation, following what Auckland Council says is “multiple complaints” from neighbours this year.

Following those complaints, Council issued Silverdale Landscape Services with an Abatement Notice, which takes effect on November 20. These notices warn that the recipient is breaching the Resource Management Act and, in this case, requires the business to make changes, move, or close down.

Co-owner of the business, Ruth Pine, says she suspects that the firewood processing, added to the mix 10 years ago, may be the cause, as she received complaints about noise, particularly during lockdown.

“Chainsawing is noisy as well as trucks tipping the logs which happens, on average, 5-6 times a month,” Ruth says. “It’s noisy, but it’s quick. We are an essential service so worked over lockdown and maybe that made the noise more noticeable.”

She says over the last 12 months noise has reduced due to better processing techniques and new machinery.

“We have invested in hydraulic machinery to cut and split the wood, reducing the amount of chainsaw noise. We no longer use chainsaws before 9am or after 4pm on weekdays or at any time on the weekends.”

The business employs seven, mostly fulltime, staff including Ruth and husband Grant Amos, and generally operates 7.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Most customers are local. It also has a Council grave-digging contract.

A compliance officer came to the Aubrey Road property in June and served the Abatement Notice. Since then the company has been fighting to stay in business.

It is located in a Countryside Living zone and Council’s regulatory compliance manager, Steve Pearce, says when it was smaller it could operate there as ‘a home occupation’.

“Earlier this year we started to get complaints and found the business has grown to be a big, industrial sized operation, which is not permitted,” he says.

Ruth says although the firewood processing has grown, and is profitable, the business as a whole is smaller.

She is looking into the cost of applying for retrospective resource consent but fears it may be unaffordable.

“They haven’t offered us any ideas apart from shutting down or moving,” Ruth says. “Our family home is on this land and we are desperate to hold onto our jobs at a time when things are tough.”

Neighbours are entitled to peace and quiet but Hibiscus Matters was not able to contact the complainants, as their details are kept by Council in confidence. Nearby organisations who support Silverdale Landscaping include Aubrey Early Learning Centre and Riding for the Disabled.

Aubrey Learning Centre director Victoria Howard says the chainsaw does not operate for long periods.

“They are hard working and considerate about noise. It doesn’t seem fair if they lose their business,” she says.