Seascape ‘ghost tower’ shedding white debris, neighbour complains to Auckland Council

A neighbour of Auckland’s partly-built abandoned 56-level $300 million ghost tower Seascape has complained that plaster is being blown off the skyscraper but Auckland Council says it’s paint and being taken care of.

“Debris is falling onto the footpath from the tower,” said the neighbour who did not wish to be identified.

Building consents general manager Ian McCormick said paint had been coming off steel in the tower, not plaster.

“Following site visits by our compliance team, the matter was referred on to building consents who have since met with Icon,” he said referring to the builder which has had involvement in the tower after China Construction left.

“We understand the fallen material was paint flaking from steel beams and does not pose a safety risk.

“Icon have informed us that they have employed someone to keep the site and surrounding area clean of debris.

“Icon has also met with the complainant and carried out a clean of their property,” McCormick told the Herald.

The apartment dweller who lives in a tall Gore St tower initially addressed his concerns to the council’s central licensing and compliance division.

The 187m high block is New Zealand’s tallest apartment tower and partly clad but its tower crane stands idle after receivers were last month appointed to owner Shundi Customs.

Brendon Gibson and Neale Jackson, of Calibre Partners, were appointed on March 4 by China Construction Bank.

Shundi Customs, headed by Harrison Shao, owns Seascape, the 187m tower on Customs St East.

Shundi has been unable to restart major construction works since they ceased on-site in August 2024, the receivers said.

“We will work with the current contractor onsite, Icon Construction, to ensure the development remains safe and secure,” Gibson said.

The neighbour complained to Auckland Council that the tower had shed materials for some time and insists it is plaster, not paint.

He sent photographic evidence of plaster on the street below his apartment block.

“Our deck is again littered with flaked off plaster from the Seascape building. What have you done to remedy this health and safety issue?” he asked a compliance officer.

That officer explained how he had undertaken an assessment from the Gore St/Fort St area beneath the tower.

“I did not observe any discharge of flakes from the road, which was the next best assessment option available to us.

“Unfortunately, we were not able to gain access to your property at that time, as you were away during the Easter break and our on‑call officer was unable to attend during the availability advised," the officer told the neighbour.

He discussed the complaint directly with the property owners, “who are currently overseas. As works have ceased on site and there is no active activity occurring, there are limited enforcement options available at this time”, the officer told the neighbour.

Enforcement action requires a visible discharge to be present at the time of the site visit.

“I can send an advisory letter to confirm this complaint that has been received and at this time no enforcement action will be taken but can be if discharges are found leaving their site. In addition to this, I have informed the building team,” the officer wrote.

Compliance investigates building works where there may be unconsented activity or potential breaches of the Resource Management Act, the Building Act, the Building Code, the Local Government Act 2002, and the Auckland Unitary Plan, the neighbour was told.

Seascape’s resource consent had recently lapsed, and the owners had applied for the necessary extension of time, as works are currently on hold, the officer said.

“The next best option at this stage would be to contact WorkSafe, as the matter may relate to health and safety concerns associated with the flakes,” the council officer told the complainant.

So the neighbour complained to the Herald.

The receivers are due next month to issue their first report into Seascape.

Questions were put to Calibre on the complaint that Seascape plaster is shedding but no response was received.

Seascape timeline:

Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.