The owner of a Wanaka building deemed to be unsafe by the Queenstown District Court has applied to have an injunction lifted so tenants can return.
However, the building remains vacant and the court has yet to hear the application by The Wanaka Gym Ltd, a company associated with Dr Fiona Graham.
A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday but did not go ahead, Queenstown Lakes District Council corporate and regulatory manager Roger Taylor said yesterday.
"The Wanaka Gym has filed an application in the court in Christchurch for the injunction to be vacated.
That was due to be heard on Tuesday . . . and council was preparing to argue that the injunction should not be vacated.
"We were advised on Thursday that the hearing has been postponed until some time in September, based on a further application from The Wanaka Gym.
In the interim, the injunction remains in place and the property may not be occupied other than in compliance with the terms of the injunction," Mr Taylor said.
The council was not aware of any work being completed to address the fire safety concerns it had raised in court.
"If work was completed it is required to be inspected in compliance with the terms of the building consent. No request for inspection has been made," Mr Taylor said.
The council evicted 20 tenants from the converted gymnasium at 155 Tenby St on Monday, August 11.
They had signed three-month tenancy agreements and were paying $150 each a week to live at the house.
They had also paid a $450 bond.
Radim Srapatka, a caretaker and resident, said last week the tenants hoped they could come back soon.
He was unhappy with the eviction because he and friends had done some repairs and felt they had not been told of all the problems.
Dr Graham is believed to be overseas.
