CLEARER QUAKE RULES ON WAY
The Government is bringing in a uniform national standard for earthquake strengthening that will give clarity to building owners everywhere. Nelson’s historic Trathen’s building and many others in the city, along with hundreds around New Zealand, are in limbo as their owners ponder whether to strengthen or demolish. The Nelson City Council has settled on 34 per cent of the New Building Standard as the minimum requirement, having first gone for 67 per cent until the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch earthquakes strongly recommended the lower figure. The Tasman District Council has yet to set a percentage. Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith said the Government had also settled on the 34 per cent, and hoped to finalise the legislation in the next few months.
EARTHQUAKE RISK
(The Nelson Mail Wednesday, January 14, 2015)
WATER RATIONING LOOMS
Tasman District Council's Dry Weather Taskforce will meet next week to discuss potential water restrictions in light of the district's falling river and groundwater levels. Taskforce convenor, and environment and planning manager, Dennis Bush-King, said the Wairoa River at the gorge was holding, but the Motupiko River was low and getting close to rationing. With little rain predicted it was more than likely levels of water rationing would be introduced next week.
(The Nelson Mail Wednesday, January 14, 2015)
CALL TO LIGHT UP PARTY HOTSPOT
The way to make Bridge St a safe and inviting night-time entertainment area is to ‘‘light it up like a theatre’’, says Hospitality NZ Nelson branch president Ron Taylor. Bright lights that expose the darkest doorways and dingiest corners was the way to evict lurking bad behaviour that occurs after dark, he said. The Nelson City Council has set aside $200,000 to proceed with upgrades on the nightclub-laden stretch of road as the second stage of the controversial Bridge St upgrades that took place last year. This is provided the works and infrastructure committee agree to progress the plan at their next meeting on February 12.
(The Nelson Mail Thursday, January 15, 2015)
HOUSE PRICES DIP BUT SALES STRONG
The Nelson housing market is looking positive, despite a drop in the median price, says Real Estate Institute Nelson spokesman Darryl Marshall. Nelson City’s median house price last month dropped 3.7 per cent on the same time last year to $350,000, and was down 4.8 per cent from November’s $367,500. The Richmond market was looking positive with a 21.7 per cent increase in volumes sold in December compared to November 2014. Motueka’s property market was also looking positive, with 30 homes sold in Motueka in December 2014, compared with 19 sold in November 2014, a 57.9 per cent increase.
HOW MUCH?
Median house price in December compared to same time last year
Nelson City $350,000 down 3.7 per cent
Richmond $490.250 up 7.7 per cent
Motueka $327,000 down 13.9 per cent
Source REINZ
(The Nelson Mail Friday, January 16, 2015)
TOPHOUSE OWNERS CALLING TIME
When Mike and Melody Nicholls moved into the historic Tophouse Hotel they were told it was beyond repair. Refusing to take no for an answer, they set to work restoring and repairing the building. After 28 successful years of business, the couple have finished what they set out to do and are moving on, ending an era for them and another chapter in the Tophouse’s colourful history. The St Arnaud hotel, now called the TopHouse Historic Guesthouse, went on the market this week. Mike and Melody moved into the decaying building in 1987 and within six months, they had the hotel up and running. ‘‘It was a gut instinct, I knew it could be saved,’’ said Mike. The locals in Tophouse were extremely supportive, with many pitching in to get the building up to hotel standard. The hotel is a tourist attraction because of its history, including a notorious double murder-suicide known as the Tophouse Tragedy. In 1894 Wakefield man William Bateman, in a jealous rage, shot dead the temporary manager of Tophouse and the local telegraphist. After threatening two women he shot himself on the hotel veranda, leaving gunshot holes in the wood visible today. The Nicholls family have never been fazed by that grim part of its history, nor, said Mike have visitors. ‘‘When we first came to look at [Tophouse] it just felt like a friendly place, and lots of people have felt that through the years,’’ said Mike. The building is open on Thursday to Sunday nights for meals and accommodation. Current leasee Jennifer Sloots said it had been a busy summer. She said the work done on the property by the Nicholls family had been crucial to its continuing success in the region.
(The Nelson Mail Saturday, January 17, 2015)
"THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK"
“The moment that you realise that you’ve been at work for only an hour.”
Duke & Cooke Property News is a clipping service publication compiled by Duke & Cooke Ltd, valuation and property specialists. The information contained within this newssheet are excerpts of property-related articles from current local news sources. Full attribution is given for the source of the extracts in order that the reader may refer to the source articles for full information. As this publication is a clipping service only, the articles included do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Duke & Cooke, and these items are included impartially and objectively.